Going a tiny Bit Bigger in Geothermal

Even when completed, the 330 Mw Sarulla task in Indonesia doesn't come close to the Geysers task in California, which is the largest geothermal task ever completed. When the Geysers first went online in the 70's, the capacity of the geothermal field started out at 1.5 Gw, then increased to its peak level at 2 Gw in 1987. Its production decreased additional to its current level of about 700 Mw due to the depletion of the aquifer from which the plants draw their steam. This decrease was deemed as poor maintenance by Calpine, its operator, by the Eec. Newer plant designs re-inject the water back into the aquifer order to eliminate this problem.

Despite the Eec's criticism, The Geysers is still the most efficient geothermal field in the world, providing nearly 60 percent of the electricity used in California's North Coast region, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.

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Technically, the Sarulla task can claim to be the largest singular covenant geothermal plant due to The Geysers' amelioration as a series of multiple projects which were later consolidated under the maintenance of Calpine. Currently, The Geysers is comprised of 19 facilities spread over the geothermal field.

Indonesia is aggressively pursuing more geothermal power with a stated objective of a very ambitious 4 Gw by 2014. This is the equivalent of four nuclear generators. Cost presents the main challenge in this pursuit due to the cheap dirty coal which serves as the country's main power source. Despite its higher cost, geothermal power remains bright because it provides constant baseline power at a lower cost than wind and solar.

The Sarulla project, barring financial or regulatory difficulties is planned for completion in five years, with the first phase representing about one-third of the capacity starting production within three years.

It doesn't appear that geothermal production in the U.S. Is going to increase or play a larger role than it is at present, as evidenced by smaller task sizes due to the diminishing production of the best fields. Geothermal holds much more promise in places like Indonesia and New Zealand with good resources and the inherent for much bigger fields in the future.

Anthony Ricigliano

Going a tiny Bit Bigger in Geothermal

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