Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential

Younger, P. L. (Ed.) (2015) Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential. MDPI: Basel. ISBN 9783038421337

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Publisher's URL: http://books.mdpi.com/pdfview/book/166

Abstract

Geothermal energy has been harnessed for recreational uses for millennia, but only for electricity generation for a little over a century. Although geothermal is unique amongst renewables for its baseload and renewable heat provision capabilities, uptake continues to lag far behind that of solar and wind. This is mainly attributable to (i) uncertainties over resource availability in poorly-explored reservoirs and (ii) the concentration of full-lifetime costs into early-stage capital expenditure (capex). Recent advances in reservoir characterization techniques are beginning to narrow the bounds of exploration uncertainty, both by improving estimates of reservoir geometry and properties, and by providing pre-drilling estimates of temperature at depth. Advances in drilling technologies and management have potential to significantly lower initial capex, while operating expenditure is being further reduced by more effective reservoir management—supported by robust models—and increasingly efficient energy conversion systems (flash, binary and combined-heat-and-power). Advances in characterization and modelling are also improving management of shallow low-enthalpy resources that can only be exploited using heat-pump technology. Taken together with increased public appreciation of the benefits of geothermal, the technology is finally ready to take its place as a mainstream renewable technology, exploited far beyond its traditional confines in the world’s volcanic regions.

Item Type:Edited Books
Additional Information:This book is a reprint of the special issue that appeared in the online open access journal Energies (ISSN 1996-1073) in 2014 and 2015 (available at: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies/special_issues/geothermal-energy).
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Younger, Professor Paul
Authors:
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Publisher:MDPI
ISBN:9783038421337

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