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McGinness Hills 374 MW Geothermal

GeothermalRenewable

McGinness Hills 3 is a 74 MW geothermal power plant in the United States, operated by Ormat Nevada Inc since 2019. Ranked #13 of 65 geothermal plants in the United States. Its 74 MW represents 1.9% of the United States' total geothermal capacity of 3,889 MW. The largest geothermal plant in the United States is Geysers Unit 5-20 at 1,163 MW, making McGinness Hills 3 15.7 times smaller. Nearby plants within 50 km include McGinness Hills (100 MW, Geothermal). The facility is located in Nevada, approximately 150 km east of Reno.

Capacity
74 MW
Commissioning Year
2019

7 years old

Owner
Ormat Nevada Inc
Location
39.5963°, -116.8942°

United States of America, North America

Location
Coordinates:: 39.596300, -116.894200
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Technical Details
Primary Fuel Type
Geothermal
Energy Source
Renewable
Country
United States of America
Continent
North America
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database
United States of AmericaEnergy Profile
10,047
Total Plants
1386.4 GW
Total Capacity
GasCoalNuclearHydro
Top Fuels
Understanding Geothermal Power Generation: An Overview

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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