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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

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

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]

The Geysers Media

  • The Geysers Resort Hotel, ca 1880

  • Drilling a geothermal well, 1977 (USGS)

References

  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, 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
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