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

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 10kWe to 45 MWe. 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.