Geothermal Power not Just for the Western US

Jefferson Tester, the H.P. Meissner Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT headed an MIT-led study of the potential for ramping up geothermal energy within the United States. Tester was part of the 18-member panel that prepared the 400-plus page study, "The Future of Geothermal Energy," (PDF 14.1MB) for the U.S. Department of Energy.

I have summarized some of the main points from an article (page 3) in MIT TechTalk.

• Geothermal resources are available nationwide, although the highest-grade sites are in western states.
• Geothermal energy using enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technology would greatly increase the fraction of the U.S. geothermal resource that could be recovered commercially.
• The United States, generating 300 megawatts, is already the biggest producer of geothermal.
• If geothermal is going to be anything more than a minor curiosity, it has to reach at least the level of hydro and nuclear power, or 100,000 megawatts out of 1 million--one-tenth of total capacity," he said.
• The study found that geothermal could supply a substantial portion of the electricity the United States will need in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact.
• The process involves drilling to as deep as 30,000 feet, pumping water under pressure into fractures to break apart underground rock formations and freeing up reservoirs.
• Seismic activity is a risk, he said. "The big challenge is to show you can do it not only in California, but also in the Midwest and ultimately on the East Coast, where you have to go deeper."
• Among geothermal's advantages are its below-ground, out-of-sight nature, making it easier to site, and its high capacity and because, unike solar or wind, it runs a the time.
• Environmental impacts are "markedly lower than conventional fossil-fuel and nuclear power plants."
• Meeting water requirements for geothermal plants may be an issue, particularly in arid regions.

Comments

[Nucbuddy]

GreyFlcn,

The term "on board" was meant literally, not figuratively. Graham Cowan was referring to Greenpeace activists Lonnie Dupre's and Eric Larsen's having literally allowed themselves to be rescued in July of 2006 by the nuclear-powered icebreaker Jamal.

gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/3/22/131039/904#comment2

More on that incident is here:
google.com/search?q=icebreaker+Lonnie+Dupre+Eric+Larsen

If we get in trouble, we have to rely on helicopters or Russian Icebreakers.

Here is a short write-up with photos of the anti-nuclear-organization-representing explorers, and the nuclear-powered ship that rescued them.

[Kit P.]

The builder is http://www.rosenergoatom.com/en/ . According to Rosenergoatom, everyone will want one.

[rain forest Activism in tasmania]

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[Kit P]

I have not seen a biomass plant that I did not like because they generally burned waste wood and made the local environment better.

[David Walters]

Geothermal is great if you can get to it. All we here "EVER" is *potential*. There is a reason geothermal is not widely used. Because it is hard to get too, hard to process the steam and numerous other costs and expensese.

Current world-wide geo sites tap *existing steam reservoirs*. Injection of condensed steam is ony a hypothesis as to it's return as steam. Thus, existing geo sites run by PG&E and Calpines in California are *losing their steam packs* and reducing generation: they don't know where the steam comes from.

"Hotrocks" is simply unproven and costs are unknown. Even though I'm very pro-nuclear, I'm FOR continuing exploring the Hot/dry rocks method. But don't hold your breadth...
"potential".

David

[sean white]

Can I make solar panels at home from materials I order. Green Energy offers for 39.95$ material and info to order and build solar panels for 200$ per panel and 200$ for a wind turbine. What is the cost of materilals wholesale to a manufacturer of solar panels. We always speak of the retail costs. -Sean

[drilling rigs]

i am so glad to hear this.

[oilfield equipment]

i am sure about this type of power. is it cheaper.

[Charles]

I think it is fantastic how the stimulus funds are making a difference. They are being taken advantage of all the time with the installation of geothermal heat pumps to replace high energy heating and cooling systems.

[George]

Thats a great article. Thanks for sharing.

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Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating, opening a potential for widespread exploitation. Geothermal wells release greenhouse gases trapped deep within the earth, but these emissions are much lower per energy unit than those of fossil fuels. As a result, geothermal power has the potential to help mitigate global warming if widely deployed in place of fossil fuels.

[Logo Design]

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There is a reason geothermal is not widely used. Because it is hard to get too, hard to process the steam and numerous other costs and expensese.

[Below The Surface]

We must keep in mind about the safety issues. This is much more useful than using nuclear methods..
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Viva-Magazine-Your-Premium-Womens-Natural-Health-Magazine/262734921452?ref=ts

[tegaderm]

That's very interesting I got to read. Thank you for sharing.

[NFL shop]

I would like to thank you for the efforts you've made in writing this posting.

[Diamond Core Drill]

I too agree with the point that Nuclear power is generally accepted as 100 times safer than other sources of electricity.