Development in geothermal energy in mexico—part twenty seven: The potential for geothermal organic rankine cycle power plants in Mexico

Abstract

Mexico possesses large amounts of geothermal energy. Samples from over 800 geothermal surface phenomena indicate that only 1.1% have an estimated reservoir temperature greater than 200°C. Current practice in Mexico is to produce power from such reservoirs using an open flash steam cycle. It is estimated that 4.8% of geothermal resources are in the temperature rangefrom 140 to 200°C which is a suitable range in which to operate Organic Rankine cycle power plants. Organic Rankine cycle power plants have been built in a range of sizes from 10kW e to 45 MW e. They have considerable potential for increasing the production of electricity from Mexico's geothermal resources. Organic Rankine cycle plants are discussed together with the conditions for their economic operation.