GEYSERS UNIT 5-20

How GEYSERS UNIT 5-20 compares

With 1,273 MW of capacity, GEYSERS UNIT 5-20 ranks 7th among the 874 operating power plants Bywatts maps in California and is the largest of the 24 operating Geothermal plants in the state. It accounts for about 49% of California's operating Geothermal capacity and 1.8% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the largest of the 34 operating Geothermal plants in the database. Commissioned in 1971, it is older than 85% of the 859 operating California plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, GEYSERS POWER CO LLC, runs 4 operating plants in California totaling 1,552 MW. It shares Sonoma County with 7 other operating plants, including GEOTHERMAL 1 and GEOTHERMAL 2.

EIA-860 lists 12 generators at the site with 1,163 MW of nameplate capacity, all geothermal technology. Net generation was 4,367 GWh in 2024 (a 43% capacity factor), down 6% from 2022. Its generators came online between 1971 and 1985.

Grid neighborhood

The nearest named substation is GEYSERS TAP 9 (230 kV), about 0.4 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 230 kV line owned by PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY, under 0.1 miles away. Another 11 operating power plants totaling 564 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is CALISTOGA POWER PLANT (176 MW, Geothermal).

Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant, substation and transmission line records and EIA-860/923 survey data; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology