Impact of enhanced geothermal systems on US energy supply in the twenty-first century

Abstract

Recent national focus on the value of increasing US supplies of indigenous renewable energy underscores the need for re-evaluating all alternatives, particularly those that are large and well distributed nationally. A panel was assembled in September 2005 to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of geothermal becoming a major supplier of primary energy for US base-load generation capacity by 2050. Primary energy produced from both conventional hydrothermal and enhanced (or engineered) geothermal systems (EGS) was considered on a national scale. This paper summarizes the work of the panel which appears in complete form in a 2006 MIT report, 'The future of geothermal energy' parts 1 and 2.In the analysis, a comprehensive national assessment of US geothermal resources, evaluation of drilling and reservoir technologies and economic modelling was carried out. The methodologies employed to estimate geologic heat flow for a range of geothermal resources were utilized to provide detailed quantitative projections of the EGS resource base for the USA. Thirty years of field testing worldwide was evaluated to identify the remaining technology needs with respect to drilling and completing wells, stimulating EGS reservoirs and converting geothermal heat to electricity in surface power and energy recovery systems. Economic modelling was used to develop long-term projections of EGS in the USA for supplying electricity and thermal energy. Sensitivities to capital costs for drilling, stimulation and power plant construction, and financial factors, learning curve estimates, and uncertainties and risks were considered.

Today's and Future Challenges in Applications of Renewable Energy Technologies for Desalination

“…Middle East and North Africa). (Goosen et al, 2010(Goosen et al, , 2011b Goosen and Shayya, 1999; Khamis, 2009; Mahmoudi et al, 2008 Mahmoudi et al, , 2010b Misra, 2010;Serpen et al, 2010; Stock Trading, 2010;Tester et. al., 2007).…”

Fracture Characterization in Enhanced Geothermal Systems by Wellbore and Reservoir Analysis

“…An empirical correlation was used to compute the specific power output, , as a function of the injection and production temperature. The correlation, presented by Bennett and Horne (2011), was based on results presented in the well-known MIT report on the Future of Geothermal Energy in the United States (Tester et al, 2006). The specific power output, in units of kW/(m 3 /day), was:…”

Numerical Modelling of Thermal Convection Related to Fracture Permeability - Implications for Geothermal Exploration and Basin Modelling

“…Until recently geothermal energy has been restricted to areas where thermal water or steam is found at relatively shallow depths less than 4km (volcanic areas); however, the advancement of exploitation techniques has broadened the geographic extent of geothermal utilization, whether it be in the form of electricity production or direct heat application (Tester et al, 2007). Geothermal energy can be used directly, i.e.…”