Understanding who we are, using Geothermal

California market

Calipatria, California is a small city located in the Imperial Valley, in the southeastern corner of the state. It is situated at the coordinates 33.1256° N, 115.5147° W. The city's borders are roughly defined by the following coordinates:

North: 33.1580° N
South: 33.0932° N
East: 115.4799° W
West: 115.5495° W

Founding and History:
Calipatria was founded in 1914 by the Imperial Valley Farm Lands Association, a group of investors who sought to develop the area for agricultural purposes. The name "Calipatria" is a combination of "California" and "patria," the Spanish word for "homeland." The city was incorporated in 1918.

Main Industry:
Agriculture has been the primary industry in Calipatria since its founding. The Imperial Valley's fertile soil and warm climate, combined with the water supplied by the All-American Canal, support the production of various crops, including lettuce, alfalfa, carrots, and sugar beets. Geothermal energy production is also a significant industry in the area, thanks to the presence of the Salton Sea Geothermal Field.

Notable People:

Ben Hulse (1903-1993), California State Senator and advocate for the development of the Imperial Valley.
Calipatria is also known for its high school football team, the Calipatria Hornets, which has won several league championships.

Main Companies:

CalEnergy Operating Corporation, a subsidiary of BHE Renewables, operates geothermal power plants in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, near Calipatria.

Several agricultural companies operate in and around Calipatria, including growers, packers, and shippers of various crops.

Energy Company:

CalEnergy Operating Corporation is the main energy company in Calipatria, operating geothermal power plants in the nearby Salton Sea Geothermal Field. The company has several power plants in the area, including:

Salton Sea Power Station (10 units)
Vulcan Power Station (2 units)
Leathers Power Station (2 units)
Elmore Power Station (2 units)
Hoch Power Station (2 units)

These geothermal power plants contribute to California's renewable energy production and help support the local economy through job creation and tax revenue.

In conclusion, Calipatria, California, is a small agricultural city with a significant geothermal energy industry presence. Its location along the San Andreas Fault and proximity to the Salton Sea Geothermal Field make it an important area for renewable energy production in Southern California.

To estimate the probable revenue opportunity associated with the KGRAs listed in the table, I will use the average power output and temperature values for each KGRA, along with the assumptions and findings from relevant case studies. I will then calculate the potential annual revenue for each KGRA using a range of electricity prices.

Assumptions:

Capacity factor: Based on case studies of geothermal power plants, I will assume an average capacity factor of 90% (Zarrouk & Moon, 2014).
Electricity prices: I will use a range of prices from $0.05/kWh to $0.15/kWh, which is consistent with the range of geothermal power purchase agreement (PPA) prices in the United States (Getman et al., 2017).
Power output: For each KGRA, I will use the midpoint of the resource estimate range as the assumed power output.

Step 1: Calculate the estimated annual energy production (AEP) for each KGRA.
AEP (MWh/year) = Power Output (MW) × Capacity Factor × 8,760 hours/year

Step 2: Calculate the potential annual revenue for each KGRA using the range of electricity prices.
Annual Revenue = AEP (MWh/year) × Electricity Price ($/kWh)

Here's a table summarizing the estimated AEP and potential annual revenue for each KGRA:

KGRA Power Output (MW) AEP (MWh/year) Annual Revenue ($0.05/kWh) Annual Revenue ($0.10/kWh) Annual Revenue ($0.15/kWh)
Newberry Volcano 500 3,942,000 $197,100,000 $394,200,000 $591,300,000
Klamath Falls 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
Alvord Desert 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
Vale Hot Springs 75 591,300 $29,565,000 $59,130,000 $88,695,000
Neal Hot Springs 35 275,940 $13,797,000 $27,594,000 $41,391,000
Raft River 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
Yellowstone 1,500 11,826,000 $591,300,000 $1,182,600,000 $1,773,900,000
Salton Sea 2,500 19,710,000 $985,500,000 $1,971,000,000 $2,956,500,000
Coso 750 5,913,000 $295,650,000 $591,300,000 $886,950,000
The Geysers 1,500 11,826,000 $591,300,000 $1,182,600,000 $1,773,900,000
Casa Diablo 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
East Mesa 300 2,365,200 $118,260,000 $236,520,000 $354,780,000
Heber 300 2,365,200 $118,260,000 $236,520,000 $354,780,000
Wendel-Amedee 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
Brawley 300 2,365,200 $118,260,000 $236,520,000 $354,780,000
Beowawe 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
Roosevelt Hot Springs 250 1,971,000 $98,550,000 $197,100,000 $295,650,000
Cove Fort-Sulphurdale 150 1,182,600 $59,130,000 $118,260,000 $177,390,000
Valles Caldera 750 5,913,000 $295,650,000 $591,300,000 $886,950,000
Lightning Dock 75 591,300 $29,565,000 $59,130,000 $88,695,000
Clifton Hot Springs 35 275,940 $13,797,000 $27,594,000 $41,391,000
Mount Princeton 75 591,300 $29,565,000 $59,130,000 $88,695,000
Marysville 75 591,300 $29,565,000 $59,130,000 $88,695,000

The potential annual revenue for the listed KGRAs ranges from $13.8 million to $2.96 billion, depending on the assumed electricity price and the estimated power output of each resource. The KGRAs with the highest estimated revenue potential are:

Salton Sea (California): $985.5 million to $2.96 billion
Yellowstone (Wyoming): $591.3 million to $1.77 billion
The Geysers (California): $591.3 million to $1.77 billion
Coso (California): $295.7 million to $887.0 million
Valles Caldera (New Mexico): $295.7 million to $887.0 million

It is important to note that these revenue estimates are based on assumptions derived from case studies and do not account for site-specific factors, such as development costs, transmission infrastructure, or regulatory considerations. Actual revenue may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each KGRA and the prevailing market conditions.

References:

Getman, A., Augustine, C., Kang, K., & Blecher, W. (2017). Geothermal power purchase agreements. Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 41, 1101-1110.
Zarrouk, S. J., & Moon, H. (2014). Efficiency of geothermal power plants: A worldwide review. Geothermics, 51, 142-153.