Integrated Smart Brine Management Approach to Reduce Geothermal Plant Operating Costs and Improve Mineral Recovery
Project Update
The project is progressing as planned, with boundary conditions fully completed and initial modeling activities underway. Laboratory corrosion testing has begun, and early results show good agreement with model predictions, confirming the reliability of the experimental setup. Scaling test equipment has been prepared, and brine‑based experiments are expected to begin in 2026. Development of the corrosion monitoring probe has been more complex than expected, but the final design has been selected and fabrication is in progress. Foundational work is complete and major technical tasks are scheduled to accelerate in 2026.
The Issue
Geothermal power is expensive in part because the hot brines that flow through these plants contain minerals that cause pipes and equipment to corrode and clog. Existing tools can predict scaling or corrosion separately, but operators lack a single system that shows how both problems interact across the entire plant in real time. These issues drive up operating costs and make new geothermal projects harder to finance, limiting development of California’s large geothermal potential. At the same time, these brines contain valuable minerals like lithium, but uncontrolled scaling and corrosion make recovery difficult. A comprehensive approach is needed to better understand brine behavior, reduce costs, and unlock new mineral recovery opportunities.
Project Innovation
This project will develop the first integrated model that brings together brine chemistry, corrosion, and scaling into a unified predictive tool for geothermal operators. By combining thousands of simulations with laboratory data, the team will create a robust system that shows how geothermal brines affect equipment and mineral recovery under varying chemical and operational conditions. The integrated model enables prediction of both material degradation and mineral deposition, something not previously available to geothermal operators. Ultimately, the innovation lies in compressing highly technical chemistry, materials, and scaling behavior into operator‑friendly decision tools that can guide more efficient, lower‑cost geothermal operations.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
The project will deliver a comprehensive brine‑chemistry system model that helps geothermal operators reduce unplanned downtime, improve system reliability, and operate more efficiently. By integrating predictions into a unified framework, the model will support lower operating costs and extend equipment life. Improved understanding of brine behavior will also enable the evaluation and potential use of more cost‑effective alloys, helping reduce capital costs for future geothermal projects. In addition, the model will improve mineral recovery rates, adding a new revenue stream for geothermal operators. These benefits enhance the competitiveness of geothermal power in California, strengthening grid reliability with clean baseload energy. The project will also create technical training opportunities and support workforce development, particularly through Cal Poly Pomona’s engagement with underrepresented student populations. Overall, the project supports California’s long‑term energy, economic, and environmental goals by enabling more affordable and sustainable geothermal development.
Affordability
The integrated modeling is designed to cut operating expenses viafewer unplanned outages from scaling/corrosion, and it should also reduce capital expenditures by enabling evaluation of lower‑cost alloys and process optimizations.
Reliability
A system‑level understanding of brine chemistry, corrosion, and scaling improves predictability of plant performance and reduces downtime, strengthening baseload availability.
Key Project Members
Subrecipients
Match Partners
