Whitegrass No. 1 is a 6.4 MW geothermal power plant in the United States, operated by Open Mountain Energy LLC and commissioned in 2018. Ranked #63 of 65 geothermal plants in the United States, Whitegrass No. 1's 6.4 MW represents 0.16% 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 Whitegrass No. 1 182.6 times smaller. Nearby plants within 50 km include Tracy (1,032.9 MW, Gas) and Fort Churchill (230 MW, Gas). The facility is located in Nevada, approximately 50 km northeast of Reno.
8 years old
United States of America, North America
Location
Zero Direct Emissions
Whitegrass No. 1 is a geothermal power plant producing approximately 45 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.
Lifecycle emissions: ~38 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)
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 America — Energy Profile
Nearby Power Plants
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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