Energy: New 55 MW Geothermal Plant

The Costarican Institute of Electricity delivered the Las Pailas II Geothermal Plant located in Curubandé, Guanacaste province, at a $366 million cost.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

According to projections, the work became more expensive and was delivered months late, since the 2016-2035 Generation Expansion Plan specifies that the plant had an initial cost of $335 million and was to begin operations in January 2019. The total final investment was $366 million.

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Luis Diego Pérez, project director, explained that "Las Pailas II has a state-of-the-art turbine, sound insulation panels and a fiberglass cooling tower. In addition, all its wells were drilled with a directional technique, not vertical. It puts us at the forefront of energy infrastructure."

Las Pailas II joined Miravalles I, Miravalles II, Miravalles III, Miravalles V and Boca de Pozo -located in Campo Alfredo Mainieri Protti, in Bagaces-, in addition to its predecessor Las Pailas I, in Liberia. With these plants, the country adds 262 MW of installed geothermal capacity, the third largest in America, details the statement from the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity.

Technical data sheet of the project:

- Location: Curubandé de Liberia, Guanacaste province.
- Installed capacity: 55 megawatts
- Projected average annual generation: 410 gigawatt hours
- Start of construction: April 2013
- Delivery of the work: July 2019
- Main works: Machine house, cooling tower and substation
- Wells: 21, drilled with directional technique (not vertical)
- Average well depth: 2,200 meters
- Pipeline: 13.88 kilometers
- Pressurized pipe: 8.63 kilometers
- Initially planned investment: $335 million

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