Ormat builds 10-megawatt power plant with advanced 3D modeling

Streamlining workflows boosted efficiency by 20%

About the Customer: Ormat Technologies Inc.

Shifting to clean energy for 50% of the nation's peak electricity

Ormat Technologies Inc., a global leader in renewable energy solutions, partnered with the Government of Dominica and Dominica Electricity Services to finance, construct, and operate a 10-megawatt geothermal power plant. The USD 65 million Roseau Valley Geothermal Project supports the country’s goals of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and generating 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Using Bentley’s interoperable solutions, Ormat automated workflows, leveraged advanced 3D subsurface modeling, and integrated geophysical data to streamline engineering processes.

Designing in volcanic terrain

To overcome the challenges of developing a geothermal power plant in Dominica’s complex volcanic terrain, Ormat chose a suite of infrastructure solutions from Bentley and Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company. Leveraging Bentley’s infrastructure solutions, the Roseau Valley Geothermal Project achieved a 20% increase in efficiency by streamlining complex engineering workflows and reducing manual processes. Beyond immediate operational gains, the project set a benchmark for driving sustainable solutions in the face of climate change.

Solutions

3D subsurface modeling accuracy

Seequent Leapfrog Energy and Volsung enabled clear 3D subsurface reservoir visualizations and numerical simulations, reducing the risk of needing to drill for additional wells, saving over USD 10 million per well.

Reducing on-site work with BIM modeling

Improved design and structural analysis efficiency, through products such as OpenRoads Designer, AutoPipe, and STAAD, resulted in cost savings of USD 280,000.

Improved collaboration and decision-making

Bentley’s interoperable applications integrated data seamlessly, minimizing errors, accelerating project timelines, and driving faster approvals.

Bentley’s product range provided more certainty, both below-ground for reservoir and wells and above-ground for the power plant, piping and supporting equipment. A project like this in Dominica shows how impactful geothermal can be in unlocking cost-effective energy freedom for small countries.

– Simon Webbison, Vice President, Exploration & Resource Management, Ormat Technologies Inc.