The Geysers

The West Ford Flat power plant is one of 22 power plants at The Geysers

The Geysers, a geothermal power field of 72 miles (116 km) north of San Francisco, California, is the largest geothermal development in the world. It produces over 750 MW. The Geysers has 22 separate power plants that use steam from more than 350 producing wells. The Calpine Corporation operates and owns 19 of the 22 facilities.[1]

History

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The Geysers was found by European Americans. It was named in 1847 by John Fremont during his research.[2]

Between 1848 and 1854, Geysers worked as a spa complex The Geysers Resort Hotel. It was visited by such famous people as Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain.[2][3][4] But in 1938, the main building was destroyed in a landslide.

Five of the Geysers plants were destroyed in the Valley Fire of September 2015.[5]

The Geysers Geothermal Power Development project was named as a California Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.[6]

Other geothermal power plants

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Rank Station Country Location Capacity (MW) Ref
1 The Geysers  United States 64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W / 64.03722; -21.40083 (Hellisheidi Power Station) 1808 [7]
2 Cerro Prieto  Mexico 32°23′57″N 115°14′19″W / 32.39917°N 115.23861°W / 32.39917; -115.23861 (Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station) 958 [8][9][10]
3 Hellisheiði  Iceland 64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W / 64.03722; -21.40083 (Hellisheidi Power Station) 303
4 Olkaria  Kenya 64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W / 64.03722; -21.40083 (Hellisheidi Power Station) 260
5 Darajat  Indonesia 64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W / 64.03722; -21.40083 (Hellisheidi Power Station) 255
6 Malitbog  Philippines 11°09′07″N 124°38′58″E / 11.15194°N 124.64944°E / 11.15194; 124.64944 (Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Station) 233 [11]
7 Wayang Windu  Indonesia 07°12′00″S 107°37′30″E / 7.20000°S 107.62500°E / -7.20000; 107.62500 (Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Station) 227 [12]
8 Kamojang  Indonesia 64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W / 64.03722; -21.40083 (Hellisheidi Power Station) 203
9 Navy  United States 64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W / 64.03722; -21.40083 (Hellisheidi Power Station) 240 [7]

References

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  1. ↑ "Calpine Corporation - The Geysers" (http). Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Future of Energy: Earth, Wind and Fire. Scientific American. 2013-04-08. ISBN 978-1-4668-3386-9.
  3. ↑ Hodgson, Susan F. (2010). A Geysers Album: Five Eras of Geothermal History (PDF). Sacramento: State of California Department of Conservation. pp. 1–81. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Geothermal Technologies Program: A History of Geothermal Energy in the United States". 2007-09-04. Archived from the original on 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  5. ↑ "Valley Fire Devastates Facilities At The Geysers Geothermal Power Plant". 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  6. ↑ Rintoul, Bill (August 10, 1976). "Kern County oilfields news". The Bakersfield Californian. p. 20.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Geothermal California" (PDF). GRC Bulletin. Geothermal Resources Council. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Mexico Country Report 2012" (PDF). IEA Geothermal Implementing Agreement. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Powerhouses of Cerro Prieto, archived from the original on 2010-04-19, retrieved 2010-03-20
  10. ↑ Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station, retrieved 2010-03-20
  11. ↑ Energy Development Corporation: Geothermal Operating Sites Archived 2015-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 24 March 2011
  12. ↑ Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Station, retrieved 2010-03-20