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Solar and wind have been the celebrities of renewable energy news coverage recently, but according to the United States Geological Survey and industry experts, geothermal energy is the next big thing.
The current economic crisis and rising costs of oil have led to a push for more geothermal energy production in the U.S., already the world’s leading producer.
In the first government assessment in 30 years, the USGS reports that the U.S. has “identified conventional” sources of geothermal energy that, if fully developed, are capable of generating 9,057 megawatts (MW). One megawatt is equal to 1,000 kilowatts, enough to serve about 1,000 U.S. homes, meaning 9,057 MW could power 9,057,000 homes.
Another potential 30,033 MW is available in “conventional undiscovered” sources and 517,800 MW from Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), sources that have high temperatures and low permeability. This figure makes Google’s August announcement that it was investing $10 million in EGS development pretty exciting.
At an international conference this week on geothermal energy, industry insiders revealed that projects are being developed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Nevada, which has the most potential geothermal power, has 45 projects alone. More than 2,100 MW can be produced in Nevada, more than enough to meet the state requirement to have 20 percent renewable power production by 2015.
This news makes me feel like the U.S. is really in reach of utilizing large amounts of renewable energy. Let’s hope that the experts are right, the press coverage increases and the funding follows.
via CleanTechnica
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written by Jake, October 12, 2008
Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/e...emand.html
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written by cmdrtebok, October 12, 2008
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written by nicster, October 12, 2008
Like hydroelectric, this seemingly "free and clean" source of energy can have consequences on the surrounding areas. These need to be evaluated and balanced.
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written by bbm, October 12, 2008
Probably not as cheap as nuclear...
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written by Mark Bartosik, October 13, 2008
That's where our drilled expertise should be concentrated.
Shine baby shine.
Blow baby blow.
Drill baby drill --- for geothermal!
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[url=
Karl’s Chena Power is teaming with UTC Power, a division of United Technologies Corp., and Quantum Oil and Gas to match a $742,000 federal Department of Energy grant to generate electricity from hot water drawn up through wells at a Jay, Fla., oil field. On-the-ground work could start in early 2009.[/i]
[url=http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/11/chena-power-studies-potential-oil-field-geothermal/][img][img][quote][i]FAIRBANKS — Clean-power crusader Bernie Karl and two major partners want to make electricity out of oil field water using geothermal technology proven at Chena Hot Springs.
Karl’s Chena Power is teaming with UTC Power, a division of United Technologies Corp., and Quantum Oil and Gas to match a $742,000 federal Department of Energy grant to generate electricity from hot water drawn up through wells at a Jay, Fla., oil field. On-the-ground work could start in early 2009.[/i]
[url]http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/11/chena-power-studies-potential-oil-field-geothermal/]http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/11/chena-power-studies-potential-oil-field-geothermal/][img][img][quote][i]FAIRBANKS — Clean-power crusader Bernie Karl and two major partners want to make electricity out of oil field water using geothermal technology proven at Chena Hot Springs.
Karl’s Chena Power is teaming with UTC Power, a division of United Technologies Corp., and Quantum Oil and Gas to match a $742,000 federal Department of Energy grant to generate electricity from hot water drawn up through wells at a Jay, Fla., oil field. On-the-ground work could start in early 2009.[/i]
[url]http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/11/chena-power-studies-potential-oil-field-geothermal/[/url]
Consider the low temperature hot spring at Chena Hot Spring in Alaska produces the only electric power in Alaska from geothermal resources despite the most abundant high temperature resources of any state. Low temperature resources are scattered throughout the U.S.
Countries far away from the Pacific "Ring of Fire" are aggressively developing geothermal resources, notably Germany, while the U.S. is mostly thinking on it while worshipping the the sun, the source of the most expensive and difficult alternate power source of them all.
JMO.
Best, Terry