Traditional deployment of geothermal power plants takes many years from project start to power online and involves prohibitive investments costs to complete. The design and implementation of modular, container based geothermal flash plants can significantly help to accelerate the execution of geothermal power projects and reduce overall project risk. Boreholes can be harnessed at an earlier stage, usually within weeks after drilling has been completed, whereas the conventional approach requires borehole evaluation periods of 3-5 years before power production.

Green Energy Group AS has developed well-head condensing power plants (5.0 and 6.4 MWe units) and their modular design is based on standard manufactured components. Being flash based, the power facilities are suitable for temperatures above 160 degrees Celsius (Wet/Dry and Flash Geothermal Systems). The plant, delivered in standard ISO containers on-site, can operate independently for each well or be organized in power farms to provide a similar power output to large traditional geothermal power plants. The plant and the standardization of key components allows for quick installation. The first power online can be expected within 12 months after ordering.

One such modular power plant has now been producing power in Africa since January 26, 2012. The 5 MWe geothermal power plant, is an addition to Kenya’s national power provider KenGen’s already operating 135 MW of geothermal power. Green Energy Groups modular approach supplies KenGen with an early supply of electricity and importantly access to revenues earlier in the investment cycle. The company has signed a contract for the construction of 12 additional plants with a combined capacity of 65 MW for KenGen and is currently constructing the first two.