Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant
The Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant is located on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland. The plant uses steam and brine from a reservoir at 290 to 320°C, which is extracted from 12 wells that are 2700 m. deep. This is the first time that geothermal steam of such high temperature has been used for electrical generation. It can therefore be said that this is a pioneer project in the world geothermal industry. The Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant generates 100 MWe from two 50 MWe turbines. The plant owner is HS Orka.
The geothermal brine is extracted from the ground and piped into a steam separator. From there, the separated steam passes under 19 bars of pressure to a steam dryer and into the two 50 MW turbines. The steam is cooled and condensed with 8°C seawater in a seawater condenser, since the plant is situated close to the ocean front. 4000 l/s of seawater are pumped through the condenser.
The plant is located on the Reykjanes peninsula (red spot on the map of Iceland below) on the south-western part of Iceland. The area has high geothermal energy as it is situated on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This ridge is formed by plate tectonics that are moving in separate directions.
The picture on the right shows the location of the plant and production wells in the yellow colored area.