Geysers Unit 5-20 — United States of America
Geothermal power plant in California, United States of America. Approximate location 38.777, -122.745.
GeothermalCaliforniaUnited States of America
Geysers Unit 5-20 is a 1,163 MW geothermal power station in California, United States of America. It is operated by Geysers Power Co LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 4,351 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.2 million homes. It ranks #497 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1979, it is around 47 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, geothermal supplies about 0.4% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0000286.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,163 MW, Geysers Unit 5-20 is well above the median geothermal plant in United States of America (30 MW). Geothermal plants tap underground heat to raise steam for a turbine; they provide steady, low-carbon baseload but are limited to geologically active regions.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 43%, from 4,351 GWh of reported generation; the median for 60 geothermal plants in United States of America that report generation is 52%
- Generation trend
- 4,785 GWh in 2013 and 4,351 GWh in 2019 (−9%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2013: 4,785 GWh; 2019: 4,351 GWh
- Share of United States of America geothermal capacity
- 29.9% of 3,889 MW across 65 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 65 dated geothermal plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Geysers Power Co LLC.
Local climate & thermal context
This geothermal plant taps underground heat to raise steam that drives a turbine. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 38.8°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 27% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 39/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #1 largest geothermal power plant of 65 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 65 geothermal power plants in this dataset, together about 3,889 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Calistoga Power Plant · Geothermal · 176.4 MW · California
- Sonoma California Geothermal · Geothermal · 78 MW · California
- Geothermal 1 · Geothermal · 110 MW · California
- Geothermal 2 · Geothermal · 110 MW · California
- Bottle Rock Power · Geothermal · 55 MW · California
- Aidlin Geothermal Power Plant · Geothermal · 25 MW · California
Location
Coordinates 38.777, -122.745 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Geysers Unit 5-20?
Geysers Unit 5-20 is a 1,163 MW geothermal power plant in California, United States of America, commissioned in 1979.
How much electricity does Geysers Unit 5-20 generate?
Geysers Unit 5-20 generates about 4,351 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Geysers Unit 5-20?
Geysers Unit 5-20 is operated by Geysers Power Co LLC.