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Cerro Prieto
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720
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Los Azufres
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188
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Los Humeros
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40
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Las Tres Virgenes
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10
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| Total | 958 |
The installed geothermal capacity in México is 958 MW from 37 units, currently operating into four geothermal fields. Cerro Prieto (720 MW), Los Azufres (188 MW), Los Humeros (40 MW) and Las Tres Vírgenes (10 MW). No new important addition has been realized since 2005, except one 5 MW unit at Los Humeros. However, the projects Cerro Prieto V (100 MW) and Los Humeros 9-10 (50 MW) have been approved and it is expected that both will be completed by 2011. All the fields are operated by Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE).
The project Cerritos Colorados (75 MW), formerly known as La Primavera, has been programmed for 2014. With the planned decommissioning of some old units, the net increase for 2015 of the country will be about 160 MW. Cerro Prieto is the oldest and largest Méxican geothermal field in operation. It is located in the northern part of Mexico, and its first power units were commissioned in 1973. There are currently 13 operating units of condensing type: four 110 MW double-flash, four single-flash of 37.5 MW each, four single-flash of 25 MW each and one 30 MW single-flash, low pressure, amounting 720 MW.
Los Azufres is the second geothermal field operating in México. It is located in the central part of the country, 250 km away from México City. The first power units were commissioned in 1982, and presently there are 14 power units in operation: one condensing of 50 MW, four condensing of 25 MW each, seven 5 MW back-pressure and two 1.5 MW binary cycle. The total installed capacity is 188 MW.
The geothermal field of Los Humeros is also of volcanic type. It is located in the eastern-central part of México, at the eastern end of the Méxican Volcanic Belt. Its power units number 1 and 2 started to commercially operate in 1990, and currently there are eight back-pressure units of 5 MW each with a total operating capacity of 40 MW. The more recent unit (Unit 8) was commissioned in April 2008.
Las Tres Vírgenes is the most recent field in operation in México. It is located in the middle of the Baja California peninsula, at the north of the state of Baja California. There are only two condensing 5 MW power units in operation that were commissioned in 2002. The electricity production from geothermal resources is quite stabilized and it plays a very important role in the energy market of the country, despite of its minimal value of 3% on the national basis. In 2008, West Indies Power drilled three slim holes at 1,000 m depth, finding temperatures of 225oC. A 35 MW project has been launched. The excess of production could be exported to St. Kitts via sub-sea cable crossing the narrow strait that separates the two islands.
Taken from Ruggero Bertani’s paper, " Geothermal Power Generation in the World 2005–2010 Update Report ", published in Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 2010, Bali, Indonesia, 25-29 April 2010.
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Total thermal installed capacity in MWt:
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155.82
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Direct use in TJ/year
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4,022.8
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Direct use in GWh/year
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1,117.5
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Capacity factor
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0.82
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Geothermal energy in the country is almost entirely used to produce electricity, since its direct uses are still under development and currently remain restricted to bathing and swimming facilities with recreational purposes and some with therapeutic uses (reported at 20 locations). Almost all of the resorts have been developed and are operated by private investors, yet there are isolated facilities operated by federal, state or municipal government. These public facilities are usually operated through tourism offices, or in some cases, through federal institutions like the national social security institute (IMSS).
Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has developed some direct uses of geothermal resources at the Los Azufres geothermal field, including a wood-dryer, a fruit and vegetables dehydrator, a greenhouse and a system for heating of its offices and facilities in this field.
A mushroom growing facility at Los Humeros geothermal field has been closed.
The use of geothermal heat pumps is minimal, and underdeveloped with no information available. District and individual space heating is little used in Mexico due to the mild temperatures throughout the year in most of the country.
The various direct use applications include:
0.460 MWt and 4.397 TJ/yr for individual space heating;
0.004 MWt and 0.059 TJ/yr for greenhouse heating;
0.007 MWt and 0.101 TJ/yr for agricultural drying;
155.347 MWt and 4,018.229 TJ/yr for bathing and swimming;
for a total of 155.818 MWt and 4,022.786 TJ/yr.
Taken from the paper by John W. Lund, Derek H. Freeston, and Tonya L. Boyd: "Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy 2010 Worldwide Review"; published in Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 2010, Bali, Indonesia, 25-29 April 2010