The first geothermal-solar power plant in the world, the 59-megawatt Stillwater facility, is now in operation in Fallon, Nevada where it provides enough power for 50,000 local homes.

"As the first of its kind in the world, this project demonstrates how we can tap renewable energy sources to provide clean power for American families and businesses and deploy every available source of American energy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu during the facilities dedication on May 3.

The Stillwater facility received $40 million in tax support under the Recovery Act.

A recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated that work on the project created up to 75,000 jobs nationwide and $44 billion in total economic output.

The project built on the existing Stillwater geothermal plant, which opened in the area on 2009. The original facility had a generation capacity of 33 MW of geothermal power.

Enel Green Power, the renewables arm of Italy's Enel Group, expanded the capacity of the Stillwater plant by adding 26 MW of photovoltaic solar generating capacity.

Enel Green Power North America installed more than 89,000 polycrystalline photovoltaic panels on land adjacent to the Stillwater geothermal plant.

According to Enel, the PV panels alone will generate over 43 million kilowatt-hours annually, enough for 16,000 households and to avoid the emission of around 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

By combining geothermal and solar generation, the Stillwater facility will be able to provide continuous generation capacity. The geothermal portion can make up for power fluctuations inherent to solar which is subject to changes in weather.

The Stillwater area is one of seven areas earmarked by the Energy Department for accelerated geothermal development in Nevada and Utah as part of the Obama administrations goal to expand domestic renewable energy sources. – EcoSeed Staff

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