Salt Wells

♨ GeothermalIPP Non-CHP23 MW capacity

73rd largest plant in Nevada · 4447th nationally

Salt Wells is a geothermal power plant in Nevada with a nameplate capacity of 23.6 MW. It generates roughly 73.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 6,971 average U.S. homes.

Its capacity factor of 35% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.

PeakingMid-meritBaseload0%40%80%100%35%
Peaking — intermittent or backup
Capacity24 MWnameplate
Annual Generation73.2k MWhEPA eGRID
Capacity Factor35%of theoretical max
Annual CO₂metric tons

Location

Plant NameSalt Wells
OperatorOrmat Salt Wells Llc
CityFallon
CountyChurchill County
StateNevada
ZIP89406
Coordinates39.29440, -118.57250

This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.

OilSolarGeothermal

Generators (2)

IDTechnologyFuelCapacityStatusOnline
101GeothermalGeothermal11.8 MWOperating2009
201GeothermalGeothermal11.8 MWOperating2009

Grid context

NERC RegionWECC
Balancing AuthorityNevada Power Company

About Geothermal plants

Geothermal plants tap heat from underground reservoirs to spin steam turbines. They provide carbon-free baseload power with very high capacity factors, but they only work where hot rock is accessible — primarily in the western U.S.

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