Geothermal handbook: PlanninG and Financing power Generation t e c h n I c a L r e p o r t 2 / 2

Investment Cost Estimates 
Table 1.6 presents an indicative cost analysis for development of a typical 50 MW greenfield project 
in a geothermal field with drillings of around 2 km in depth. Power plants of up to 50 MW can often 
constitute a suitable first step unit, which can be expanded or multiplied at a later stage, or remain as 
the final unit. Industry practice for well depths is usually between 1.5 and 3 km, with an international 
average of around 2 km which will be used for the following calculations. The cost figures include 
all exploration and drilling costs, as well as estimated financing costs for the development of a 
hydrothermal reservoir for power generation. 

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