Enel Green Power completed and connected to the grid the Cove Fort geothermal power plant, its first plant in the State of Utah (USA).

Cove Fort is a medium-enthalpy geothermal plant, which uses innovative binary cycle technology. The facility is owned by Enel Cove Fort, LLC, a subsidiary of EGPNA Development Holdings, LLC.

The installed capacity of the Cove Fort geothermal plant amounts to 25 MW. The operating facility will be able to generate up to 160 GWh of power per year, therefore avoiding the emission of around 115,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.

Construction of the plant, in line with the growth targets set by Enel Green Power’s 2013-2017 Business Plan, required a total investment of approximately 126 million US dollars, financed through the Enel Green Power Group’s own sources.

The power plant is supported by a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the energy produced by the facility. The agreement was signed with company Salt River Project. Over more, the project is expected to qualify for the Section 1603 Renewable Energy Treasury Grant Program, therefore accessing the fiscal incentives envisaged by said regulation.

In North America, Enel Green Power also owns the geothermal plants of Stillwater and Salt Wells, which are located near Fallon, Nevada. These plants also use the medium enthalpy, binary cycle technology, which is among the most advanced in the sector. Last year, a 26 MW photovoltaic facility was added to the Stillwater geothermal power plant, therefore creating the first hybrid plant in the world with these characteristics.