Notes

a geothermal power plant is a facility that uses the Earth's natural heat, found deep underground, to produce electricity. The heat comes from the Earth's core and warms water or rocks beneath the surface. Wells are drilled to bring this heat, in the form of hot water or steam, to the surface. The steam is then used to spin turbines, which generate electricity. Afterward, the cooled water is returned underground to be reheated, making the process sustainable and renewable. It’s like using the Earth’s internal energy as a never-ending fuel source.

the types of geothermal power plants are ways of utilizing the Earth's heat differently based on the temperature and form of the geothermal resource.
Dry Steam Plants: These use pure steam that naturally comes from underground reservoirs to directly power turbines. It’s the simplest and oldest method, but it works only in areas where steam is readily available, like The Geysers in California.

Flash Steam Plants: These take hot water from underground, which is under high pressure. When brought to the surface, the pressure drops, and the water quickly "flashes" into steam. This steam is then used to drive turbines. This method is more common because high-pressure hot water is found in many geothermal reservoirs.

Binary Cycle Plants: These use lower-temperature geothermal water. Instead of using the water directly, it heats a secondary fluid (with a lower boiling point) in a heat exchanger. This secondary fluid turns into vapor and spins the turbines. It’s ideal for areas with moderate geothermal resources and is very versatile.