Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy with enormous potential in many countries. Today, geothermal power covers about 1% of the primary energy supply worldwide. In addition to its enormous potential, geothermal power has several advantages compared to other renewable energies:

• Reliability: Geothermal power is a base load energy, independent of daytime as well as of weather conditions and climate.
• Affordability: Geothermal electricity production is a low cost option at many sites with a high natural potential.
• Local energy source: It decreases transport expenditure, supply risks, currency outflow, and dependency on imported fuel.
• Flexibility: The simple and proven technology allows expansion of geothermal power plants according to the demand.
• Low risks in case of a plant accident.
• Environmentally friendly: Geothermal power plants are almost emission free.
• Space efficiency: Geothermal power plants require minimal space

Geothermal energy potential has been harnessed to a limited extent in developing countries, among them mostly more industrialised countries with particularly favourable locations (high temperatures at shallow depth, i.e. regions with active volcanoes). A major barrier for the wider use of geothermal energy from this so called hydrothermal reservoirs is related to the nature of this source of energy: steam and hot water have to be found up to several kilometres under the earth's surface. They are not easily accessible and profound geological knowledge is needed to assess the geothermal resource potential. Exploration of the resources is expensive due to high drilling costs. In addition, the high up-front costs are linked with geological uncertainties and thus deter potential investors. Drilling a geothermal well is estimated as about 1-4 Mio. USD. Operating costs are low once running: the overall electricity cost of geothermal energy is in the range of 3–10 US¢/kWh. The current cost of direct heat from geothermal is about 5 US¢/kWh (EERE 2013).

Information about the potential for geothermal energy production in your country are available at the site of the International Geothermal Association (IGA).