| Abstract |
Many rural and remote areas in the PhiIippines and elsewhere have local geothermal resource areas capable of supporting ekctrical power generation These areus may not be connected to the power grid but with local small-scale geothermal power generation, the surrounding communities can enjoy the bene@ of cost efective and reliable electnkig. With the current interest in small-scale geothermal power plants for mal local generation and oflgridpowr, this paper examines 5 case histories of such small power plants in terms of technology, economic and injmtrwcture issues. The cwes considered herein me as follows: (a) Tad's Enterprises, Nevada USA, with 2 modules rated at 1.75 MW total; (b) Empire Geothed, Nevah USA, with 4 modules rated at 4.8 ME' total; (e) EGA T Fang Geothermal, Thailartd, with one module rated at 300 kW; (4 NAGQU geothennal, Tibet PRC, with one modide rated at 1.3 MW and (e) Sa0 M i p l Geothermal No. 1, Azores, Portugal, with 2 modules rated at 5.5 MW total. This presentation &tails economic, maintenance and resource issues. Conclusions reached are that: (a) small geothermal power projects are technically and economical& feasible, with plant and well utilization technologies proven and powr costs acceptable, and (b) most of the problems in developing and operating these plan& relate to availability offinancing and maintenance infiasmture. |