Entwicklungen nach Fukushima - ESB-Radler

The new Siemens SST-400 GEO steam turbine with a rating up to 60 MW
is deployed in geothermal power plants
rature of 160°C and above is used either to drive the
turbine directly or with the help of separators where
the hot water from the well flashes to steam.
Geothermal resources are not without aspects to be
considered. Every site is different in its characteristics,
such as flow rate, pressure, pH, the content of noncondensable
gas, and solid levels. The demands to the
plant and in particular to the steam turbine are much
higher than in conventional power plants fired by gas
or coal. Highly corrosive steam, relatively low pressure,
and the risk of earthquakes require a robust design,
advanced techniques and special material selection to
withstand the harsh environment.
As a company committed to sustainable energy solutions,
Siemens Energy has developed a new steam turbine
for geothermal power plants which exactly fit into
that market. It combines Siemens’ turbine know-how
with the wealth of experience accumulated by its subsidiary
company TurboCare in preventive and corrective
maintenance of steam turbines for geothermal applications.
The SST-400 GEO is a derivative of the SST-400
turbine optimized for the harsh conditions of geothermal
steam cycles. Its special material is selected to meet geothermal
specific steam chemistry and to resist corrosion
attacks and corrosion-assisted fatigue cracking of the
blades, a major issue for geothermal steam turbines. The
24 Schwerpunkt Erneuerbare Energien – Entwicklungen nach Fukushima
advanced design features offer high reliability and efficiency,
the main criteria for purchase decisions in this industry.
While the technology is proven and available, the Indonesian
market for geothermal power generation will
still need a while more to lift off. State owned power
company PLN just announced that it will open three
geothermal power plants with a total production capacity
of 135 MW this year, nevertheless, project development
has been minimal considering the substantial
resources. Among the major barriers are the lack of a
consistent legal basis, complex processes for operators
to obtain permits and licenses, restrictions of foreign
investment into power plants, and a lack of financial
incentives combined with heavy subsidies for energy
consumption. The government has been making efforts
to speed up geothermal development though, especially
in decreasing the subsidy in oil fuel, thereby making
geothermal energy competitive against diesel-powered
electricity generating stations. While foreign investment
might still take a while, the two state-run companies
PLN and Pertamina were asked to step in and ease
the way to achieve the ambitious goals. This way or
another, if Indonesia fully exploited its huge resources,
it could fulfill its entire national energy needs. Geothermal
energy can be an example for many Asian
countries to bring electricity to people in remote areas
while reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.