CFE upgrades geothermal power plant in Baja California

During a comprehensive inspection of operational processes, staff from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) toured the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field, a commercial facility with 53 years of uninterrupted service.

With an installed capacity of 720 MW and current generation of 570 MW, Cerro Prieto is one of the largest plants in the world and the second largest in Latin America, harnessing water at temperatures exceeding 570°F extracted from wells 5 kilometers deep and channeled to steam turbines operated by the CFE.

The inspection is part of CFE’s plan to strengthen geothermal energy, which covered everything from working conditions, facilities, and steam supply equipment to the generation fleet, progress on new geothermal projects, and ongoing drilling operations.

Baja California is a state not currently connected to the National Electric Power Grid; its integration is planned as part of the CFE’s power supply projects.

The CFE committed to continuing its plan to strengthen geothermal energy, which contributes to the sustainable development of the electricity sector and to enhancing Mexico’s energy security and sovereignty.