Exergy International, a specialist in advanced geothermal binary power plants, has secured a €24.5 million contract from EDA Renováveis (EDAR) for the upgrade of the Ribeira Grande geothermal plant located on the island of São Miguel in the Azores.
The contract covers the design, manufacturing, construction, and commissioning of a new 5 MWe geothermal binary plant. The revamp involves replacing two of the four existing Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) units, each with a capacity of 2.5 MWe, with a modern 5 MWe unit featuring Exergy’s proprietary Radial Outflow turbine technology.
The system will operate using a single-pressure-level cycle to exploit geothermal resources at approximately 150 degrees Celsius in both brine and steam phases. The design ensures full utilisation of the available thermal energy while minimising fluid losses. Thanks to the high isentropic efficiency of the radial outflow turbine, the system is expected to generate approximately 5.3 MWe of net power—exceeding the customer’s request and boosting the plant’s overall competitiveness.
To enhance sustainability, the plant will use an air-cooled condensing system that eliminates water consumption. The geothermal steam and brine will be reinjected into the well after energy extraction.
Exergy’s contract scope includes full Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the ORC plant and associated gathering systems. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with the First Provisional Take-Over (Partial) planned for June 2026.
This contract marks the second collaboration between Exergy and EDAR, following the successful supply of the 4 MWe Pico Alto geothermal plant on Terceira Island, operational since 2017.
Luca Pozzoni, Deputy CEO of Exergy, stated, “We are honored by the renewed trust placed in us by EDAR, a long-standing partner with whom we have maintained a strong and continuous collaboration. We are pleased to engage once again in a project that will ensure a stable and reliable source of renewable energy for the local community on the island of São Miguel for many years to come. This initiative further consolidates our expertise in the development of geothermal energy solutions in complex and distinctive environments. EXERGY will oversee the entire execution process, from engineering and design to construction and commissioning, within a highly demanding timeframe. Once again, EXERGY reaffirms its commitment to being a reliable and comprehensive partner, capable of delivering high-performance products and services that meet the evolving needs of our clients.”
António Félix Rodrigues, Managing Director of EDA Renováveis, added, “In the Azores, in the year 2024, around 89 percent of the electricity fed into the grid from renewable or endogenous resources was the responsibility of EDA Renováveis. The revamping of the Ribeira Grande Geothermal Power Plant, along with the expansion of the Pico Vermelho Geothermal Plant, both located on the island of São Miguel - will contribute to increasing the share of renewable energy on that island to around 60 percent by the end of 2026.”
The Ribeira Grande project is a strategic milestone for EDAR’s vision to increase energy independence and promote carbon neutrality in the Azores.