The Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station is a complex of geothermal power stations in Baja California, Mexico. It is the world's largest complex of geothermal power stations in terms of overall size and the second-largest in terms of energy output,[1] with an installed capacity of 820 MW.[2][3] The facility is located just south of Mexicali and consists of five individual units, named CP1 through CP5.
| Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Mexico |
| Location | South Mexicali, Baja California |
| Coordinates | 32°24′43″N 115°14′41″W / 32.41194°N 115.24472°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1973 |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | CP1: 4 × 37.5MW, 1 × 30MW CP2: 2 × 110MW CP3: 2 × 110MW CP4: 4 × 25MW CP5: 2 × 50MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 820 MW |
Stations
editCerro Prieto I
editThe CP1 powerhouse (32°24′43″N 115°14′41″W / 32.41194°N 115.24472°W) has a total installed capacity of 180 MW,[4] generated by four units of 37.5 MW and one unit of 30 MW. Units 1 and 2 of this powerhouse was commissioned between 1973, followed by 3 and 4 in 1981.[5]
Cerro Prieto II
editThe CP2 powerhouse (32°23′27″N 115°13′33″W / 32.39083°N 115.22583°W) has a total installed capacity of 220 MW,[4] generated by two 110 MW units which were commissioned in 1982.[5]
Cerro Prieto III
editThe CP3 powerhouse (32°23′52″N 115°14′18″W / 32.39778°N 115.23833°W) has a total installed capacity of 220 MW,[4] generated by two identical units as CP2, measuring 110 MW. This powerhouse was commissioned in 1983, a year after the commissioning of CP2.[5]
Cerro Prieto IV
editThe CP4 station (32°24′15″N 115°12′43″W / 32.40417°N 115.21194°W) commenced operations in July 2000, and consists of four turbines, each with a capacity of 25 MW.[3][4][5][6]
Cerro Prieto V
editThe CP5 station (32°24′54″N 115°15′08″W / 32.415041°N 115.252108°W) is the newest powerhouse of the Cerro Prieto station. It was proposed in July 2009, with the commencement of constructions in September 2009. CP5 will consist of two 50 MW units, increasing the total capacity of the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station by 100 MW.[2][7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Magaly Flores-Armenta; Miguel Ramírez-Montes; Lilibeth Morales-Alcalá (2014), Geothermal activity and development in Mexico – keeping the production going (PDF), Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) Mexico
- ^ a b Bidding process to add 100MW to Cerro Prieto station, 16 December 2008, retrieved 2010-03-23
- ^ a b The four power houses of the Cerro Prieto Power Station, retrieved 2010-03-23
- ^ a b c d Powerhouses of the Cerro Prieto Power Station, retrieved 2010-03-23
- ^ a b c d Dipippo, Ronald (13 November 2007), Geothermal power plants, Elsevier Science & Technology Books, pp. 300–313, ISBN 9780750686204, retrieved 2010-03-23
- ^ Cerro Prieto IV, archived from the original on 2010-10-06, retrieved 2010-03-23
- ^ http://sinat.semarnat.gob.mx/dgiraDocs/documentos/bc/estudios/2007/02BC2007E0001.pdf [bare URL PDF]