Pailas Geothermal Power Plant is a 36 MW geothermal facility in Costa Rica. Ranked #2 of 5 geothermal plants in Costa Rica, it accounts for 18.09% of the country's total geothermal capacity of 199 MW. The largest geothermal plant in Costa Rica is Miravalles I and II at 115 MW, making Pailas 3.19 times smaller. Nearby plants include Corobici (180 MW, Hydro), Arenal (157.5 MW, Hydro), and Miravalles I and II (115 MW, Geothermal). The facility is located in the Guanacaste province, approximately 70 km from the capital, San José.
11 years old
Costa Rica, North America
- Primary Fuel Type
- Geothermal
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
Costa Rica- Continent
- North America
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Geothermal power generation harnesses the Earth's internal heat to produce electricity. This renewable energy source exploits the thermal energy stored beneath the Earth's crust, which can be accessed through geothermal power plants. These plants typically utilize steam or hot water from geothermal reservoirs to drive turbines that generate electricity. The process begins by drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs, often located in tectonically active regions, where the temperature gradient is favorable for energy extraction. The steam or hot water extracted is then channeled to turbines, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is subsequently transformed into electrical energy by generators.
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