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EquipmentUp to date · Jan 15, 2026

Binary Cycle Power Plant

A geothermal (or waste heat recovery) power plant where hot water from the earth heats a secondary working fluid with a lower boiling point through a heat exchanger. The secondary fluid vaporizes to drive a turbine. The geothermal water never touches the turbine and is reinjected.

Why It Matters

Binary cycle plants work at lower temperatures (100-180°C) than flash steam, making more geothermal resources accessible. They're also closed-loop — no emissions and minimal water consumption.

Related Topics

geothermal power generation

Related Terms

Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS)

A geothermal power system that creates artificial reservoirs by drilling into hot dry rock and fracturing it, then circulating water through the fractures to extract heat. EGS removes the need for natural underground water and permeability.

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