TWW recently had the privilege of visiting Omat’s impressive Steamboat Hills geothermal power plant near Reno, Nevada with state and local elected officials.
Located in Washoe County, the Steamboat Hills complex is part of a larger geothermal operation comprising six power plants that utilize advanced binary systems with both air and water cooling technology. In June 2020, the facility completed a major enhancement project that increased the Steamboat Complex's total generating capacity from 65 MW to 84 MW—an impressive addition of approximately 19 MW of power.
The enhancement involved replacing all old generating equipment with state-of-the-art technology, which not only boosted capacity but is also expected to reduce maintenance costs while increasing efficiency. The plant operates under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
For over 30 years, this facility has been producing geothermal energy for the region, and the upgraded plant now provides enough additional electricity to power 22,000 homes.
It was inspiring to see firsthand how geothermal energy harnesses the Earth's natural heat to generate renewable and perpetual power.
The Western Way looks forward to continuing to explore energy innovations that are shaping the future.