The Mayacamas Range is perched over a massive magma chamber four miles beneath the earth's surface. The region bordering Highway 175 is one of the world's largest geothermal fields, spanning 30 square miles and comprised of 22 geothermal power plants with enough power to provide energy for nearly 250,000 homes. Geothermal fields are generally located above fault lines, or cracks in the earth’s crust. Heat for this steam reservoir is powered by a large magma chamber beneath the surface, thought to be greater than 8 miles in diameter.
As groundwater seeps through cracks in the earth’s crust, it reaches this magma chamber and becomes super-heated steam rising back to the surface. Over 350 wells have been drilled into the earth’s crust in the region. As the steam rises to the surface, it is then collected & transported in large diameter pipes across the ridge tops and used to power steam turbines. The steam also produces many hot springs.
Geothermal plants can generate emissions-free renewable energy around the clock, and the waste product is water. Currently, about 20% of the power in California is produced from these geothermal plants in the hills parallel to Highway 175.
Largest geothermal power project in the world. I had no idea.
And the view!
As groundwater seeps through cracks in the earth’s crust, it reaches this magma chamber and becomes super-heated steam rising back to the surface. Over 350 wells have been drilled into the earth’s crust in the region. As the steam rises to the surface, it is then collected & transported in large diameter pipes across the ridge tops and used to power steam turbines. The steam also produces many hot springs.
Geothermal plants can generate emissions-free renewable energy around the clock, and the waste product is water. Currently, about 20% of the power in California is produced from these geothermal plants in the hills parallel to Highway 175.
Largest geothermal power project in the world. I had no idea.
And the view!
