Geothermal Energy

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Geothermal Energy

• By Nicole Pytel
• Evan Grunberger
• Amy Weinhaus

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Uses for Geothermal

• Electricity
• Santa Monica, CA
• Heating
• Iceland
• 1 of worlds electricity
• .36 of U.S.s electricity

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How does it work?

• Heat of the Earths core
• Where to drill?
• Geothermal Reservoirs
• Dry steam
• Wet steam
• Hot water

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Advantages

• Very clean, none or little emission
• Small Land use
• Most reliable energy source
• Inexpensive electricity price
• Perpetual Source of Energy
• Steam as a byproduct

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Disadvantages

• Expensive to build
• Few spots in US- West Coast Only
• Only enough to supply ¼ of US electricity demand

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Where is it now?

• Alaska
• California
• Idaho
• Hawaii
• New Mexico
• Nevada
• Utah

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Mainstreaming

• Will replace coal power plants

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Challenges

• Barriers
• Transactional Costs Address institutional
  barriers to decrease project transactional cost.
• Technical Unfamiliarity Make decision makers
  aware of geothermal benefits and resource
  locations.
• Power Market Process Make utilities, power
  generators, and regulators aware of geothermal
  benefits.
• Leasing, Permitting and Public Policies Address
  policy constraints of land use plans, and federal
  and state requirements.
• Environmental, Tribal, and Public Perception
  Address environmental impacts and educate the
  public.

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Michigan

• A geothermal system in Michigan will cost around
  500 a year to operate
• A propane system will operate at around 2000 a
  year
• natural gas heating system will cost around 1000
  a year
• These prices can fluctuate depending on the
  household. Larger households may have a cost
  upwards of 2000 more.

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Bibliography

• http//www.geo-energy.org/information/plants.asp
• http//www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/deployment.
  html
• http//www.culturesociety.net/articles/2467/1/Geot
  hermal-Energy-Facts-Geothermal-Energy-Pros-and-Con
  s/Page1.html
• http//www.spartansaving.com/Geothermal_Heat_In_Mi
  chigan.html