Title: A Survey of Geothermal Projects, Prospects and Developers in the U.S.
1A Survey of Geothermal Projects, Prospects and
Developers in the U.S.
- Daniel J. Fleischmann
- Geothermal Energy Association
2THE GEOTHERMAL INDUSTRY HAS MOMENTUM
- There is a window of opportunity for major new
development for the first time in 25 years
- Geothermal technologies are spreading to new
applications, including alternative fuel
development
- Geothermal research is leading to new
breakthroughs (Geothermal power produced from
162.5 degrees in Alaska, EGS and Hot Dry Rock
proven feasible)
3Acquiring information on new projects
- Updated estimates of developing projects from a
survey completed in March of 2006
- Included interviews and confirmation by
developers and utilities
- Included tours of facilities and meetings with
stakeholders in 5 states
4What already exists in the U.S.?
- 61 Power plants (5 states AK, CA, HI, NV, UT)
- Total installed capacity
- 11/2006 2830.65 MW
-
- Total generation in 2005
- 16,010 GWh (1.5 million homes)
- Total installed Direct-use capacity 617 thermal
MW (Estimate Year-end 2005)
5What is under development?
- There are 9 states currently planning new
projects, including Alaska, Arizona, California,
Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and
Utah - 51 projects under development of up to 1924.7 MW
- 61 projects (including unconfirmed) of up to
2376.7 MW
- Similar growth in direct use developments
6GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL BY 2025 We can triple
capacity in 10 years
7Whats New? State by State
8Alaska
-
State has lots of
Potential
-
-
High retail energy cost
-
Reliance on Diesel Fuel
Generators
-
Unalaska (15 MW)
-
Aleutian
Islands
-
Makushin
Volcano 6679
-
Chena Hot Springs
-
60
miles from Fairbanks
-
Will
be total 1 MW of ORC units
-
Resource temp 162.5F (72C)
-
-
20 MW power plant
-
(From deeper well)
9Arizona
- Clifton
Power Project
-
(2-20 MW)
-
- San
Francisco Volcanic Field
-
- Direct
use for agriculture
- (including greenhouses at
Willcox)
- (Possible for larger greenhouses?)
-
- Direct
use for residential heating
-
Aquaculture (discussed later)
10California
-
15 projects under
development
-
Up to 869 MW
-
Geysers area Up to 80 MW
-
(Among largest in the
world)
-
Southern California 500
MW
-
Salton Sea 200 MW
-
(2,000 MW of proven
reserves)
-
Truckhaven Area 224 MW
-
-
Other potential throughout
-
Mount Shasta Area 220 MW
-
-
Mammoth Hot Springs up to
40 MW
-
(Mammoth Lakes)
-
-
Surprise Valley 27 MW
-
(Northeast corner)
11Hawaii
- Expansion of existing plant expected to more
than double capacity (adding 38 MW)
- Geothermal already provides 20 of the power on
the Big Island of Hawaii
- Hawaii relies on petroleum for almost ¾ of
energy
- Highest energy prices in U.S. Twice National
Average
12Idaho
-
Raft River Project (10 MW)
-
(Up to 90 MW)
-
Crane Creek Hot Springs
-
(100 179 MW potential)
-
Snake River Plain
-
Mount Bennett Hills
-
Magic Hot Springs
-
Rexburg
-
-
Basin and Range Province
-
Willow Spring (100 MW)
-
China Cap (100 MW)
-
Sulphur Springs
-
Preston
-
-
USFS Lands
-
Boise County, Boiling Springs
Shoup, Valley County
13New Mexico
-
Rio Grande Rift (blind anomalies)
-
Las Cruces (direct use)
-
Albuquerque (direct use, power?)
-
-
-
Lightning Dock (up to 20 MW)
-
(Power Plant)
-
-
(AmeriCulture project)
- -Small 1 MW binary unit
-
-Save 30 total operating costs
-
-Pay back cost in 17 months
-
-Expand to 10 million/per year
-
-Hire additional 80
workers
-
-
Greenhouses (1 in U.S.)
-
2 largest in U.S. proposed
14Nevada
-
19 projects Under Development
-
Up to 661 MW
-
24 total up to 763 MW
-
Steamboat area (Reno)
-
Has existing plants
-
100 MW field when completed
-
Northwest corner
-
3 projects up to 85 MW
-
Churchill/Lyon Counties
-
6 projects up to 152 MW
-
Winnemucca area
-
4 areas up to 121 MW
-
California border
-
4 areas up to 283 MW
15Oregon
-
-
Crump Geyser (40-60 MW)
-
(Near Lakeview
-
site of first Oregon power
plant) -
-
Newberry Volcano (120 MW)
-
(Bend)
-
-
Neal Hot Springs
(25-30 MW)
-
(near Crane Creek
Hot Springs, Idaho)
-
-
Klamath
Falls (1.2 MW)
-
(Oregon Institute of
Technology) -
-
16Utah
-
Cove Fort (36 MW)
-
-
Roosevelt HS (11 35 MW)
-
-
Renaissance (100 MW)
-
(Wasatch
Front)
-
-
IWGC efforts
-
(North of Roosevelt HS)
-
-
Several direct use projects
- West Jordan?
17Other states
- Other Western States
- Colorado Several potential locations
high-temp resource measured in San Juan Basin at
6,800 feet
- Montana 50 geothermal areas and at least 15
high-temperature sites (US Dept. of Energy)
- Washington State 600 MW available in next 20
years (WGA Geothermal Task force report)
- Wyoming Potential outside of Yellowstone
- Rest of the U.S.
- Potential in oil producing states (discussed
later)
- Possible in Eastern States down the road
- (25 U.S. States use geothermal resources for
direct uses)
18Other Geothermal Power Applications
- Power and cascaded heat for
- Agricultural production
- Greenhouses
- Aquaculture
- Alternative fuels
- Very energy intensive (18 of Natural Gas
consumption in Iowa)
- Wabuska Bio-fuel plant
- -Will be online in 2007
- -5 million gpy
- -Oil seed, algae
- Photo The grain silo, methanol recovery towers,
- and the tank farm at the bio-diesel facility
under
- construction. Infinifuel Biodiesel. Used by
permission
- Also drilling at Gerlach, Nevada ethanol plant
- Interest in other locations in Nevada interest
in New Mexico
19Geothermalin Louisiana?
- Other possibilities include
- Co-production of oil and gas
- Louisiana
- Montana
- North and South Dakota
- Texas
- Wyoming
- Desalinization
- Mining precious metals (gold, silver)
- Hydrogen Production
- Industrial drying onions and garlic in Nevada
- Local power use Alaska, Oregon
20Direct Use
- Low temperature resources are widely available
- Can help farmers manufacturing projects in USA
(ex. AZ Shrimp farm)
- District heating (Boise, Reno, other cities
possible?)
- Dairy processing, bio-fuels refining, heap
leaching
21Direct Use ProjectsProsperity vs. Bankruptcy
Bluffdale, Utah The Utah State Prison
-Saved 344,000 in heating costs in FY 2006
Radium Springs, New Mexico Greenhouses.
(Photo by Geo-Heat Center, Oregon Institute of
Technology) -Saves 46,200 per acre per year -P
lans to expand to 40 acres in the near future
-Hire 100 additional workers
Boise, Idaho 4 existing systems
-Priced 30 below the cost of natural gas
-Plans to expand to Boise State University (18
thousand students)
Elko, Nevada Industrial park Econ
development -New Construction 6 buildings (40,0
00 sq feet) -Customers will save 2/3rds on heatin
g costs
22Looking ahead to the Future
23DRIVING THE MOMENTUM
- Current Drivers
- New Projects Energy prices Load growth
Industry growth Advanced technology Tax
credits Renewable Portfolio Standards
Research and Development Breakthroughs - Future Drivers
- Breakthroughs Carbon taxes Calls for energy
independence New applications for geothermal
technology Well-capitalized industry Tipping
Point (where what was theoretical becomes
standard)
24Web Resources
- Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) Industry
information
- http//www.geo-energy.org/
- Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Bulletins
and research reports
- http//www.geothermal.org/
- Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy Links
and informational tools
- http//www.unr.edu/geothermal/
- Geothermal-biz Contacts and News Updates
- http//www.geothermal-biz.com
- GEA More information on Developing Plants
- http//www.geo-energy.org/information/developing.a
sp
- GEA State research papers (AZ, ID, NM, UT)
- http//www.geo-energy.org/publications/reports.asp
25THANK YOU!
- Daniel Fleischmann
- Geothermal Energy Association
- 202-454-5241 (ph)
- 202-454-5265 (fax)
- dan_at_geo-energy.org
- Questions?