the environmental benefits of geothermal energy. benefits of geothermal power renewable and...
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The Environmental Benefits of Geothermal Energy
Benefits of Geothermal Power
Renewable and Sustainable
Generates Continuous, Reliable “Baseload” Power
Conserves Fossil Fuels and Contributes to Diversity in Energy Sources
Clean and Safe Energy – Uses Less Land Than Other Sources of Energy including renewables
Produces low to zero air emissions
Preserves freshwater supply
Enhances National Security by Reducing Dependence on Imported Fuels
Why Geothermal is Renewable
Geothermal Potential 3 kilometer depth (1.9 miles)
Geothermal Potentialat 6 kilometer (3.8 mile) depth
Source: US DOE
Capacity Factor Comparison
Solar Wind Geothermal
25%32%
92%
Non-Combustion Renewable Energy
Source: Renewable Energy Trends 2003, DOE. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/trends/fig1.html.
Total Domestic Energy Use, 2003
3642 3561
3237
1335
404
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
sq meter / gigawatt-hour
Coal* Solar Thermal Photovoltaics Wind** Geothermal
power technology
30 Year Land Use
Air Emissions
Power Generation contributes:
23% of national nitrogen oxide emissions.
67% of national sulfur dioxide emissions.
40% of man-made carbon dioxide emissions.
Source: U.S. EPASource: U.S. EPA
Effects of Air Emissions
Health Impacts Water Quality Deterioration Acid Rain Global Warming
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0.5
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1.5
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2.5
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3.5
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4.5
Nitrogen Oxide Comparison
Lbs/MWh 4.31 4 2.96 0
Coal Oil Natural Gas Geothermal
Coal reported as average existing system emissions, natural gas reported as average existing steam cycle, simple gas turbine, and combined cycle system emissions, from Platts Researching and Consulting, based on data from the EPA’s Continuous Emissions Monitoring Program, 20003. Average emissions rates in the United States from oil-fired generation from EPA Clean Energy Impacts (2005). Geothermal information from US DOE, 2000.
Sources: Natural gas, coal, and geothermal data from: Platts Researching and Consulting, based on data from the EPA’s Continuous Emissions Monitoring Program, 2003. Coal figure represent the average existing coal plant, natural gas figure includes the average existing steam cycle, simple gas turbine, and combined cycle natural gas plant; Average emissions rates in the United States from oil-fired generation from EPA Clean Energy Impacts (2005).
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Sulfur Dioxide Comparison Equivalent
Lbs/MWh 10.39 10 0.22 0.35
Coal Oil Natural Gas Geothermal (Flash)
0
500
1000
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2500
Carbon Dioxide Comparison
lbs/MWh 2191 1540 1212 60
Coal Oil Natural GasGeothermal
(flash)
Source: Average emissions rates in the United States from oil-fired generation from EPA Clean Energy Impacts (2005); coal and natural gas: Platt’s Research and Consulting, based on data from EPA’s Continuous Monitoring System (2003); geothermal: DOE data (2000).
Geothermal versus Coal
10,837 times more sulfur dioxide,
3,865 times more nitrous oxide,
and 23 times more carbon dioxide
per megawatt hour than a geothermal plant
Source: Coal data from Cherokee plant (Colorado) provided by Xcel Energy; Geothermal from the average of 11 Sonoma County steam power plants at The Geysers provided by Calpine Corporation as submitted to the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District for 2003 emissions inventory.
Source, geothermal: Telephone Flat Environmental Impact Statement 3.2-32, 3.2-34, 3.2-35; natural gas: Calpine Corporation Sutter Power Plant Project, Application for Certification (AFC) (Dec 1997). Table 2.2-1, Estimated Average Daily Water Requirements.
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50
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Average Operational Freshwater Use
gal/MW-hr 4.9 358
Geothermal Natural Gas
KEYS TO SUSTAINABILITY
Improve Energy Conversion Efficiency
Drill for New Steam
Recharge the Reservoir
Reduce Operating Costs
GEYSERS PRODUCTION AND INJECTION HISTORYCALPINE UNIT AREAS TOTAL
5,6
7,89,10
1112
13,14, 16 17
18Son
20WFFBC
Aid
0
50
100
150
200
250
1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
BIL
LIO
N P
OU
ND
S
TOTAL PRODUCTION CONDENSATE CREEK SEGEP SRGRP
Cal
MASS REPLACEMENT FRACTION
020406080
100
1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
%
SRGRPSEGEPCREEKCONDENSATE
Sonoma Overlook
