Reported today, geothermal developer Cyrq Energy started operation of the first geothermal power plant in the state of New Mexico in the U.S.
The Lightning Dock 4 MW binary power plant is a start for Cyrq Energy and hopefully for the state and is located near the city of Animas, New Mexico. The project was able to gain high-level political support since its inception in 2009, then called Raser Technologies Inc. That company declared bankruptcy in 2011 and later re-emerged as Cyrq Energy.
Not much details are available from the project, such as technology option etc. It is though a binary system utilizing geothermal brine at a temperature of 300 degrees F (or around 150 degrees Celsius) from a reservoir depth of 1,200 to 3,000 feet (400 to 1,000 meters).
With an investment cost of $43 million it seems to be quite expensive for a 4 MW plant. Chief Executive Nick Goodman, Gov. Susana Martinez and electricity provider Public Service Company of New Mexico are touting the project today as a way to diversify the state’s renewable energy resources.
We will follow up and try to gain better details for the project.
Source: Cyrq Energy, ABQ Journal
