The 7-MW Berlin binary geothermal power plant in El Salvador has already been installed, is undergoing testing, and is expected to be operational later this year. This announcement was made by Daniel Alvarez, the Head of the General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and MINES (DGEHM).

 

The Berlin geothermal power plant in El Salvador

Moreover, power generation of the Ahuachapan geothermal power plant has been improved in recent months, allowing it to add an additional 2 MW of capacity.

With a total of 204 MWe of installed geothermal capacity between the Ahuachapan and Berlin geothermal power plants, geothermal provides about 21% of the net electricity supply in El Salvador. Both facilities are managed by state-owned LaGeo. With its technical expertise, El Salvador has positioned itself as a focal point for geothermal development in the Central American region.

The Berlin binary power plant is considered a major milestone, as it is the first geothermal power plant that has been built in El Salvador since 2007. The power plant was supplied by Turboden according to an agreement signed in 2019.

Moreover, Alvarez assured that work on the Chinameca, San Miguel, and San Vicente are progressing. When developed, the first stage of development in these sites will add 50 MW to the installed geothermal power capacity of El Salvador. However, the World Bank will be supporting a second stage of development that will add another 100 MW.