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Puna Geothermal Venture I51 MW Geothermal

GeothermalRenewable

Puna Geothermal Venture I is a 51 MW geothermal power plant in the United States, operated by Puna Geothermal Venture since 1998. Ranked #22 of 65 geothermal plants in the United States. Its 51 MW accounts for 1.31% of the country's 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 this facility 22.8 times smaller. Nearby plants include Puna (39.1 MW, Oil), W H Hill (37.1 MW, Oil), and Kanoelehua (21 MW, Oil). The facility is located in Hawaii, approximately 50 km southwest of Hilo.

Capacity
51 MW
Commissioning Year
1998

28 years old

Owner
Puna Geothermal Venture
Location
19.4790°, -154.8884°

United States of America, North America

Location
Coordinates:: 19.479000, -154.888400
Open in Google Maps
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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