Work on a small-scale low temperature geothermal project approved in Turkey

Work on a small-scale geothermal power plant project based on electricity generation from low-temperature geothermal sources by GMK Energy has approved in Turkey.

Work on a small-scale geothermal power plant project based on electricity generation from low-temperature geothermal sources by GMK Energy has been approved in Turkey.

Adnan Menderes University Technology Development Co. Technopolis Advisory Board approved the project "Design and Manufacture of Plant with Organic Rankine Cycle that Provides Electricity Production from Low Enthalpy Geothermal Waters". This is the first project to be carried out at the GMK Geothermal Research and Development Center in Turkey.

The plan of the project is to build a small scale geothermal power plants with a 500 kWe capacity based on Organic Rankine Cycle to provide electricity generation from low temperature (below 100 centigrades) geothermal fields.

The first application for a small-scale ORC, where engineering designs are completed and all equipment including turbine will be produced locally, will be utilising a well with a temperature of 95 centigrades by a private company in Ayd?n, Turkey.

So far, in Turkey and elsewhere in the world, electricity generation from geothermal resources can be found on sites with temperatures of more than 100 centigrades. Temperatures below that in those low enthalpy fields are traditionally only used for district heating, greenhouses and other applications that don't need high temperatures.

Companies that are engaged in geothermal exploration and drilling activities with the intention of establishing a power plant stop their projects or keep their fields idle when they find geothermal resources at 100 centigrades or below. Geothermal exploration studies do not satisfy firms with well temperatures of 100 centigrades and below. They are aiming to find a temperature of 100 centigrades or above by artesian or artificial production (pump) methods at the beginning of a well.

The purpose of this project is to extend the use of low enthalpy geothermal resources in Turkey, provide an option to extend the utilisation of Turkey's geothermal resources for electricity generation to the benefit of the national economy.