Geothermal Energy

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Geothermal Energy
Harnessing the Energy of the Earth
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What is Geothermal Energy?
Geothermal energy is heat derived from the
earth Geothermal Resources Council Thermal
energy is found in rocks and fluid in the earths
crust
Thermal energy exists at various temperatures and
depths around the globe
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Geothermal Energy is

• Available continuously
• Renewable
• Clean
• Local

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American Geothermal Resources

• Western states have particularly strong
  geothermal sites

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Northwest Infrastructure
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How much power do we need?

• Northwest uses about 18,000 MW
• Energy Information Administration, DOE, 2003
  Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana
• Exponential growth at 1.8/year
• For 2025 18,000(1.018)22 26,650 MW
• For 2050 18,000(1.018)47 41,630 MW

Geothermal energy can reduce these numbers
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Geothermal Heat Pumps

• Reduce heating/cooling energy needs by up to 45
• 30 of electricity is used for heating, cooling,
  and ventilation
• Heat pumps could reduce electricity needs by
  13.5
• 2025 23,050 MW
• 2050 36,010 MW

Ductwork
Heat Exchanger
Warm liquid
Fan
Buried, closed-loop
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Geothermal Savings Energy and Dollars

• Pay less for heating and cooling
• State governments offer rebates and low-interest
  loans for installation (35 rebate in Oregon)

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Does Geothermal Add Up?

• Need
• -2025 23,050 MW
• -2050 36,010 MW

Geothermal potential Oregon 2200 MW Idaho 540
MW Montana 400 MW Washington 300 MW Northwest
3,440 MW
Sources Oregon and Idaho Testimony of U.S.
Geologic SurveyWashington Prof. Gordon
Bloomquist Montana Dr. John Lund (OIT)
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Does Geothermal Add Up?

• Iceland Deep Drilling Project
• power output from supercritical wells could be
  increased by a factor of 10 in relation to a
  normal well.
• 34,400 MW
• (96 of estimated 2050 demand!)

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• Geothermal energy has been used since 1904 to
  generate electricity
• Many countries around the world are developing
  geothermal energy

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Looking East

• Iceland uses geothermal energy to inexpensively
  provide 17 of its electricity and heat 87 of
  the nations homes

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Closer to Home

• Geysers provide California with 750 megawatts of
  electricity.
• Satisfies 60 of the electricity demands from the
  Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.

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Oregon
Oregon is already using geothermal energy to heat
buildings

• Oregon has great potential to develop
  geothermal energy

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Clean
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