Geothermal Energy: An
Overview
Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D.
Wilkes University
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Points to be covered





The deep earth as a thermal source
Direct uses of geothermal energy
Types of geothermal electrical generation
Benefits of geothermal power generation
Current levels of electrical generation
capacity worldwide
 Issues regarding geothermal
 The WebQuest
20-65 km
QuickTime™ and a
(2900 km)
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
(6940 km)
5-6 km
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Temperature and depth
 Average gradient:
 2.5 - 3.0oC / 100m
 Variation:
 1.0 - 25oC / 100m
 So if assuming average, temps at depth
will be:
0m
2000 m
4000 m
15oC
70oC
120oC
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
iga.igg.cnr.it
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
iga.igg.cnr.it
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
iga.igg.cnr.it
Geothermal energy is used in
two ways
Direct
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
www.coloradodirectory.com/cottonwoodhotsprings/
Electrical generation
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
www.energywhiz.com
Direct uses of geothermal
energy
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
www.geothermal-biz.com
www.hickerphoto.com
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
www1.eere.energy.gov
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
geothermal.marin.org
www.strose.edu
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://iga.igg.cnr.it/geo/geoenergy.php
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://iga.igg.cnr.it/geo/geoenergy.php
Types of geothermal electrical
generation
 Dry steam
 Flash steam
 Binary cycle
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Geysers dry steam field in
northern California
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Flash steam plant in Japan
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Binary plant in Nevada
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Benefits of geothermal power
 Provides safe and reliable power with little
land consumption
 Renewable and sustainable
 Provides constant baseload power
 Conserves fossil fuels
 Benefits local economies
 Can be implemented remotely
 Can prevent pollution caused by fossil fuels
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
1932
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
2000
Geothermal electrical power
Producing Country
mW in 1999
output
Total
8217
United States
2,850
Philippines
1,848
Italy
769
Mexico
743
Indonesia
590
Japan
530
New Zealand
345
Iceland
140
Costa Rica
120
El Salvador
105
geothermal.marin.org
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
What is potential for geothermal
energy development?
 Geothermal power could serve 100% of
the electrical needs of 39 countries
(over 620,000,000 people) in Africa,
Central/ South America and the Pacific.
(Source:www.geotherm.org/PotentialReport.htm link)
What is potential for geothermal
energy development?
 Using current technology, geothermal energy
from already-identified reservoirs can
contribute 10% of U.S. energy supply.
 With more exploration, inventory can become
larger.
 Entire world resource base of geothermal
energy calculated to be larger than those of
coal, oil, gas and uranium combined.
 Further research and experience will improve
geothermal resource base.
geothermal.marin.org/
What is potential for geothermal
energy development?
 According to Geothermal Energy
Association (GEA), geothermal
resources could supply over 30,000 MW
of power by 2025
 Equivalent to 6 percent of today's total
U.S. electricity needs, and equal to
100% of the electricity generated in
California, Nevada and Idaho.
geothermal.marin.org/
Employment in geothermal?
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://www.greenjobs.com/Public/images/geothermal-jobs.gif
Location of geothermal
potential in US
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
www.nwcommunityenergy.org
Geothermal heat pumps
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
© 2000 Geothermal Education Office
Benefits of geothermal heat
pumps
 Can be used almost anywhere
worldwide
 Are energy and cost efficient
 Conserve fossil fuel resources
 Provide clean heating and cooling; no
emissions from burning fuels
Deployment: 400,000 units in U.S.
Yield: 1500 thermal mW of heating and cooling
Any environmental problems?
Impact
Air quality pollution
Surface water pollution
Underground pollution
Land subsidence
High noise levels
Well blow-outs
Conflicts with cultural and
archaeological features
Social-economic problems
Chemical or thermal pollution
Solid waste disposal
Probability of
occurring
Severity of
consequences
L
M
L
L
H
L
L-M
M
M
M
L-M
L-M
L-M
M-H
L
L
M
L
M-H
M-H
http://iga.igg.cnr.it/geo/geoenergy.php
One clear environmental
benefit
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
So, is geothermal the answer
to our energy concerns?
You tell me!