Sonoma California Geothermal is a 78 MW geothermal power plant in the United States, operated by Geysers Power Co LLC since 1984. Ranked #12 of 65 geothermal plants in the United States. Its 78 MW represents 2.01% 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 Sonoma California Geothermal 14.9 times smaller. Nearby plants include Geysers Unit 5-20 (1,163 MW, Geothermal), Calistoga Power Plant (176.4 MW, Geothermal), and Geothermal 2 (110 MW, Geothermal). The facility is located in California, approximately 30 km northwest of Santa Rosa.
42 years old
United States of America, North America
- Primary Fuel Type
- Geothermal
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
United States of America- Continent
- North America
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
United States of America — Energy ProfileGeothermal 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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