| Abstract |
Geothermal power plants operate on the principle of extracting various temperature geothermal fluids from the earth and utilizing their thermal energy. As the temperature difference increases, more energy is released. In the GeoSmart project developed and granted under the EU Horizon 2020 framework program, the aim was to increase thermal energy efficiency by reducing the re-injection temperature. However, lowering the temperature brings along a set of challenges. Geothermal fluid carries specific properties of the underground rock types, especially dissolved minerals. The Kızıldere-2 Geothermal Power Plant, operated by Zorlu Energy in the Denizli region, was chosen as the application site for this project. Due to the geological characteristics of the region, one of the most prominent challenges at the Kızıldere-2 site is silica scaling, which becomes more severe as the re-injection temperature decreases due to reduced silica solubility. As a result of the project, the re-injection temperature was reduced to the temperatures around 50°C which is almost half of the initial reinjection temperature. This paper evaluates the advantages and challenges of lowering the re-injection temperature and discusses the solutions implemented to address scaling formation. |