What Are the Main Types of Geothermal Power Plants?

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What Are the Main Types of Geothermal Power Plants?

There are three main types of geothermal power plants, each designed to harness Earth's internal heat differently, depending on the temperature and pressure of the geothermal resource:

  1. Dry Steam Plants
    These are the oldest and simplest type of geothermal plant. They extract steam directly from underground reservoirs and use it to spin turbines, which generate electricity. Since no water-to-steam conversion is needed, they are very efficient but limited to areas with naturally occurring steam, like The Geysers in California.

  2. Flash Steam Plants
    These are the most common geothermal power plants. They pump hot water under high pressure from deep underground. When the pressure is reduced, the hot water “flashes” into steam. This steam is used to turn turbines. After use, the cooled water is injected back into the ground. Flash plants are ideal for geothermal sources above 180°C (356°F).

  3. Binary Cycle Plants
    These use geothermal water to heat a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point, such as isobutane or pentane. This secondary fluid vaporizes and drives the turbine. The geothermal water never contacts the turbine directly. Binary plants are suitable for lower-temperature sources (below 180°C) and are more widely applicable due to their flexible design.

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