Scaling Geothermal for Reliable Baseload Power

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50159

Geothermal is the most reliable form of renewable baseload power and given the proper financial support from the private sector -- and favorable policies from government -- it will become a viable alternative to coal, natural gas and nuclear, according to speakers at the Geothermal Resource Council's annual meeting in Reno, Nevada earlier this week.

<snip>

According to a recent report from MIT, "a cumulative capacity of more than 100,000 MW from enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) can be achieved in the United States within 50 years with a modest, multiyear federal investment for R&D in several field projects in the United States." Currently only 3,000 MW—or 3% of that potential—is installed in the U.S.

In May 2007, the GEA issued a report that identified 74 new geothermal power projects in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. According to the GEA, these projects will double U.S. geothermal power capacity to almost 6,000 MW.

Another report on the international market, which the GEA released in April, identified 40 countries with geothermal power development underway-and projected a 50% growth in power production worldwide by
2010.

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[hunter]

1. Public perception: Geothermal = Earthquakes

Now, if only the fear "fossil fuels = climate change" was so strong.

[kestrel91316]

2. Funny, before you claimed it I never heard of any such association

other than the fact that geothermal power plants are OF NECESSITY located in seismically active areas because that's where the heat source IS.

I don't think many people are dumb enough to believe that geothermal plants CAUSE seismic activity. They are located where it naturally occurs.

[hunter]

3. You will.

It makes me cringe.

This is almost certain to become a huge NIMBY issue in California. If the next big earthquake occurs after a highly publicized geothermal plant opening, all hell will break loose.

Geothermal Power Plant Triggers Earthquake in Switzerland
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 01.21.07
Business & Politics (news)

Even environmentally friendly alternative technologies can have negative impacts which are difficult to predict. The citizens of Basel learned this first-hand as they were shaken by an earthquake of magnitude 3.4 on the Richter scale, followed by 60 lesser aftershocks, including a quake of magnitude 2.5 a week after the initial quake, and another tremor of 3.1 as recently as 6 January, attributed to changes as underground pressures at the now discontinued project site return to normal. The engineers and officials of Geopower did inform the authorities and the public that the proposed Deep Heat Mining project posed a risk of triggering small tremors. Quakes of the magnitude actually experienced, however, were not anticipated. The public is also questioning whether the communication of this risk, by a brief statement buried in a press release, was sufficient to prepare residents.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/geothermal_powe.php

[kestrel91316]

4. You are probably right. But - AACKKK, stupid people piss me off.

[jpak]

5. Of all the geothermal projects worldwide that have produced power for many decades

only one has triggered seismic activity - and only a 3.4 mag at that.

*yawn*

[Nihil]

6. *Snigger*

So what?

Of all the nuclear powerstations worldwide that have produced power for
many decades only one has blown up - and only a small explosion at that.

*yawn*

(I just couldn't help it!)