Geothermal Energy for the Future?

[James21]

I have recently heard a lot about geothermal energy as a feasible energy source in the near future. I also hear that the cost and technology barriers of geothermal are holding it back from taking over as one of the main sources of domestic energy. Does anyone know more about this subject? Thank you in advance...

 

[Old Rocks]

Can Geothermal Power Compete with Coal on Price?: Scientific American

Although the environmental benefits of burning less fossil fuel by using renewable sources of energy—such as geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind—are clear, there's been a serious roadblock in their adoption: cost per kilowatt-hour.

That barrier may be opening, however—at least for one of these sources. Two recent reports, among others, suggest that geothermal may actually be cheaper than every other source, including coal. Geothermal power plants work by pumping hot water from deep beneath Earth's surface, which can either be used to turn steam turbines directly or to heat a second, more volatile liquid such as isobutane (which then turns a steam turbine).

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

I have recently heard a lot about geothermal energy as a feasible energy source in the near future. I also hear that the cost and technology barriers of geothermal are holding it back from taking over as one of the main sources of domestic energy. Does anyone know more about this subject? Thank you in advance...

I think this is a great idea if we can get it done right(ie cost effective)

Even the Evil George Bush thinks this is a good idea and uses it in his own home snopes.com: A Tale of Two Houses

 

[mdn2000]

geothermal is weak power and non renewable.

geothermal plants do not produce the power to smelt the metals they consume hence you need another power source to produce the metal that a geothermal plant consumes. That consumes as in the day to day operation, further geothermal does not have the power to make all the metal needed in the construction of geothermal.

geothermal is the most expensive for a reason, its garbage.

 

[Old Rocks]

geothermal is weak power and non renewable.

geothermal plants do not produce the power to smelt the metals they consume hence you need another power source to produce the metal that a geothermal plant consumes. That consumes as in the day to day operation, further geothermal does not have the power to make all the metal needed in the construction of geothermal.

geothermal is the most expensive for a reason, its garbage.

Nice peice of idiocy. Care to back any of your assertations with a link?

 

[KittenKoder]

Geothermal has one huge speed bump, Al Gore doesn't like it.

 

[dilloduck]

waste of water

 

[KittenKoder]

waste of water

Details details ...

 

[Mr. H.]

Study the history of commercial hydrocarbon development. If you don't like what you see then you're waisting your time.

 

[dilloduck]

waste of water

Details details ...

right up there with burning our food for energy---shitty idea

 

[Mr. H.]

waste of water

Details details ...

right up there with burning our food for energy---shitty idea

In the early 1980's the EPA first studied the emissions of ethanol blended fuels. They determined those emmissions exceded existing limits. Rather that rebuke the agriculture lobby and send them back to the drawing board, the EPA rewrote emissions standards to accomidate Big Ag. And now you know........... the rest of the story.

 

[KittenKoder]

waste of water

Details details ...

right up there with burning our food for energy---shitty idea

But then we can just make food from oil!

 

[Mr. H.]

Details details ...

right up there with burning our food for energy---shitty idea

But then we can just make food from oil!

How do you think farmers are able to grow food? Powering tractors and combines, fertilizing the ground, applying pesticides....

 

[KittenKoder]

right up there with burning our food for energy---shitty idea

But then we can just make food from oil!

How do you think farmers are able to grow food? Powering tractors and combines, fertilizing the ground, applying pesticides....

They can use methane!

 

[Mr. H.]

But then we can just make food from oil!

How do you think farmers are able to grow food? Powering tractors and combines, fertilizing the ground, applying pesticides....

They can use methane!

At what cost? If they could use methane why aren't they now? Why haven't farmers used methane these past 100 years?

 

[KittenKoder]

How do you think farmers are able to grow food? Powering tractors and combines, fertilizing the ground, applying pesticides....

They can use methane!

At what cost? If they could use methane why aren't they now? Why haven't farmers used methane these past 100 years?

Because they don't have the technology yet capable of harnessing it from cowbutts.

 

[DiveCon]

waste of water

how is it a waste of water?

or are you thinking of the geothermals like in Iceland?

 

[DiveCon]

I have recently heard a lot about geothermal energy as a feasible energy source in the near future. I also hear that the cost and technology barriers of geothermal are holding it back from taking over as one of the main sources of domestic energy. Does anyone know more about this subject? Thank you in advance...

I think this is a great idea if we can get it done right(ie cost effective)

Even the Evil George Bush thinks this is a good idea and uses it in his own home snopes.com: A Tale of Two Houses

seems some people dont understand the differences in geothermal systems

 

[eagleseven]

Our lack of energy is but a short-term problem, as we are tapping only a fraction of a percent of Earth's energy reserves.

Peak oil my ass.

 

[mdn2000]

geothermal is weak power and non renewable.

geothermal plants do not produce the power to smelt the metals they consume hence you need another power source to produce the metal that a geothermal plant consumes. That consumes as in the day to day operation, further geothermal does not have the power to make all the metal needed in the construction of geothermal.

geothermal is the most expensive for a reason, its garbage.

Nice peice of idiocy. Care to back any of your assertations with a link?

Old Crock tell us about your lies, like when you posted false data and got busted by Krotchdog, you know, the false data of hansens, the data hansen admitted to be false, data you knew to false.

A Publication by the Geothermal Energy Association
for the U.S. Department of Energy

http://www.geo-energy.org/publications/reports/Factors%20Affecting%20Cost%20of%20Geothermal%20Power%20Development%20-%20August%202005.pdf

Factors affecting the cost of geothermal power development and production are often poorly understood by persons not directly involved in geothermal project development and power production. Many articles dealing with geothermal costs incorporate restrictive assumptions and thus lead to oversimplified conclusions that do not correctly reflect site-specific particularities.

Developing a new geothermal resource is a long and expensive process.

Although existing articles may present average cost figures for geothermal power projects, the cost figures they provide usually hide the extreme variability of the cost of components discussed above. Additionally, existing articles rarely detail the exact extent of the components included in the analysis as well as the specifics of the project considered. Most article include power plant construction and steamfield development costs (drilling and steam gathering system) but few appear to address financing costs or the developer's soft costs. Almost none consider transmission costs or specify whether the project is an extension of an existing power facility or a greenfield project.

Very few articles provide detailed analyses of O&M cost components. Precise breakdown of O&M costs and further understanding of parameters influencing them is therefore a difficult task.

Major parameters affecting O&M cost are related to the plant labor requirement, the amount of chemicals and other consumables used during operation, the extent of make-up drilling requirements, and the cost of the equipment that has to be replaced throughout the years.

very few developers actually spend money on unsubsidized exploration programs.

Environmental awareness and government support initiatives (green certificates, renewable portfolio standard and tax credits, etc.) are powerful instruments that will help overcome the current level of raw material prices. Changes in the legislative framework directing geothermal development (e.g. lease access provisions, permitting procedures, exploration support initiatives, guarantees to access venture capital, etc.) would however further favor the development

As outlined in the introduction of this document, serious gaps existed between cost figures appearing in the literature and cost values provided by developers. Despite articles claiming competitiveness of geothermal power with the least expensive fossil-fuel technologies, the lack of industry growth highlighted this problem and confirmed the age and/or inaccuracy of traditionally accepted cost data.

Analyzing geothermal costs is a long and difficult process. The industry typically provides information expressed in a way that is not comparable to published data and, although most existing studies use similar notions to qualify cost components, they typically give them different meanings or definitions.

Gathering cost information documenting the variability of geothermal projects and resources is however a difficult task since major geothermal power producers deal with very different resources and some are reluctant to provide any kind of cost information.

So how much does geothermal cost, the costs are hidden from the public, its subsidized.

Is geothermal clean, nope, from the above study:

when the brine is "flashed" in order to produce steam in the separators, it naturally emits CO2

President Obama Announces Over $467 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Geothermal and Solar Energy Projects

This should be enough for now to show how OLD CROCK knows nothing about everything, Old Crock can proudly call himself a moron.