Geothermal electricity

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Figure 1. Geothermal power plant in Iceland.[1]

Geothermal electricity is electricity created from the Earth's natural heating energy geothermal energy. Not all countries can accomplish this efficiently, as the temperatures beneath the surface of the Earth vary from place to place. Countries located on geothermal hot spots, shown in Figure 2, have the benefit of high temperatures near the Earth's surface resulting in a higher thermal efficiency of heat transfer.[2]

The thermal energy beneath the surface of the Earth naturally produces steam - which can escape in geysers. This steam can be used to spin a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity. Natural steam systems are fairly rare however, so it is more common to use a system consisting of liquid water, which converts to steam as it approaches the surface.

Click here to learn about different types of geothermal power plants.

Worldwide Production

As of 2017, there are 28 countries (visible in Figure 3) with a cumulative installed geothermal power capacity of 14305 MW (14.3 billion watts) of electricity from geothermal energy, with a growth rate of 3.3% from 2006 to 2016, and a growth rate of 4.0% for 2017.[3]. Global power capacity is expected to reach 14.5 - 17.6 GWe by 2020.[4] The current power capacity from geothermal is only estimated to be at 6.5% of its potential, meaning that another 200 GWe or more could be used in the future.

Geothermal electricity is a renewable energy source and has relatively low carbon dioxide emissions in electricity production: 45 grams of CO2 are emitted per kilowatt-hour, which is less than 5% of the CO2 emitted by a typical coal-fired power plant, and about 10% that of natural gas power plants.[5]

Geothermal electricity plants can also be used for cogeneration - heating houses with excess energy.

Figure 2. Geothermal hot spots around the world.[6]
Figure 3. All countries currently generating electricity from geothermal energy are in green.[7]

For Further Reading

References

  1. Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NesjavellirPowerPlant_edit2.jpg#/media/File:NesjavellirPowerPlant_edit2.jpg
  2. R. Wolfson, "The Geothermal Resource" in Energy, Environment, and Climate, 2nd ed., New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012, ch. 8, pp. 204-218
  3. Geothermal Energy Association. (June, 2018). BP Statistical Review of World Energy [Online], Available: https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/en/corporate/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2018-full-report.pdf
  4. Geothermal Energy Association. (August 11, 2015). The International Geothermal Market At A Glance [Online], Available: http://geo-energy.org/reports/2015/Int'lMarketataGlanceMay2015Final5_14_15.pdf
  5. IPCC SRREN. (August 11, 2015). pp. 982 of Methodology [Online], Available: http://geo-energy.org/reports/2015/Int'lMarketataGlanceMay2015Final5_14_15.pdf
  6. Adapted from: R. Wolfson, "Energy from Earth and Moon" in Energy, Environment, and Climate, 2nd ed., New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012, ch. 8, pp. 204-224
  7. Information from BP Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2018 (67th edition) Accessed Oct 6th, 2018: https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/en/corporate/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2018-full-report.pdf