Why aren't more people talking about geothermal power?

Question

Just to show you what I'm talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power

This form of power eletricity generation has the potential to completely replace fossil fuels sustainably for several thousand years and would solve the problem of climate change, reduce the use of water and land and the creation of other kinds of pollution (so even if you don't support the notion of climate change it's a good idea) and stop reliance on foreign owned oil at the same time. It is far cheaper to produce eletricity geothermally than through using "clean" coal or nuclear power and it can be done on small as well as large scales so you could create more efficient grids than with nuclear and not waste power by transporting it long distances.

The US and Australia are in the two best positions to exploit geothermal resources, what are we waiting for?

See this is why I posted the link. Again I am NOT talking about geothermal heat pumps. I am talking about geothermal power generation, read the whole thing - then comment if you don't know what that is.

See this is why I posted the link. I am NOT talking about geothermal heat pumps. I am talking about geothermal power generation, read the whole thing - then comment if you don't know what that is.

This is why I wanted people to read that first: The US has the largest dry steam fields in the world, MIT has estimated that the geothermal power resources under the US could supply the entire planet with power for the next several thousand years.

For those saying expense:

"A 2006 report by MIT that took into account the use of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) concluded that it would be affordable to generate 100 GWe (gigawatts of electricity) or more by 2050 in the United States alone, for a maximum investment of 1 billion US dollars in research and development over 15 years."

1 billion US dollars over 15 years is peanuts to America, this is financially viable if we can put research and development money that is currently being spent on developing "clean" coal that will cost three times as much to generate power with as geothermal. Geothermal is actually cheaper to produce power with than nuclear.

Further note - if the US did this on a large scale it could corner the energy market easily and drive the prices down to put coal, nuclear and other dangerous or pollution heavy sources of power out of buisness while at the same time subsiding it's own switch to geothermal power.

You can utilize this power source most places in the world, it's just cheaper when you have a large source of geothermal power nearer the surface. We routinely drill to 10kms for oil, why not for geothermal? (sufficient heat in most places at that depth or closer to the surface)

As for releasing emission, unless these were older dry steam types (which release about 5 percent of the emission generated from fossil fuel based plants) your talking about then I'd disagree. Modern EGS plants do not produce emissions (other than any fossil fuels used for energy in construction of the plant, once you got electricity from geothermal sources though that doesn't have to be the case).

Answer 1

Probably, because the cost of a geothermal heat pump, is out of range for many people.
Right now let us concentrate on the easy, cheap stuff to deal with, and work on the geothermals, when they come down in price. sound like a plan??

When people are crying about the easy, cheap things, why would we jump to the expensive ones?

Answer 2

You're absolutely right; there should be no reason why we shouldn't at least fund a pilot program of several sites.

If they targeted older technology coal plants that are in an ideal geothermal location, maintaining the steam/generator turbines, they could retrofit the plant(s) to become wholly geothermal. A recycling "project" truly worthwhile. It could also serve as a direct comparison for measuring total output, ability to handle grid loads during peak usage, overall profitability relative to the type of plant it would hopefully replace. It might also relieve plant owners minds at to whether they would be able to retain their investment, their source of income.

However, geothermal is NOT completely renewable. As you deplete the heat, you get less and less generating power. Eventually, that area will not have enough heat to maintain power generation. No problem, just drill in another location - eventually (decades? centuries?) the heat will be replenished at that old site. It then becomes a question not so much of possibility but of practicality. You know the NIMBY attitude of folks - they won't like it when the local power plant has to go through an eminent domain seizing of estate for a new plant while a "perfectly good" plant lies dormant.

I think you're right about the technology. I just wonder how people will accept this new paradigm.

Answer 3

Only a few places, such as Iceland, Hawaii and Larderello, Italy have enough concentrated geothermal power to make it worthwhile. It costs a lot to drill down to tap the energy, and rock is a comparatively poor conductor of heat, so that not too much power can be produced from each well.
Still, as the cost of fuel increases, and as burning fossil fuel causes increasing harm, and with the liabilities of radiation for nuclear power and disrupting migrations of birds and fish for wind turbines and water power, geothermal power is one of the more benign and increasingly economical sources.
On a local level, it is possible to use ground-loop air conditioning for heating in winter and cooling in summer. This makes heat pumps more efficient, though not true geothermal energy.

Answer 4

Geothermal power has a high degree of uncertainty regarding the peak potential for any given site; You might expect certain amount and get much less with just a few years of steam resource. For that reason investors are very cautious investing in this form of renewable energy. I've heard governments must guarantee the investment otherwise no money would be invest by the private sector.

Answer 5

Because the real issue is not the use of fossil fuels in the generation of power that is the problem it is the cultural attachment that the people in the US have to there cars that is the problem

Answer 6

Geo thermal is only workable in areas with geothermal activity, like Yellowstone and other places with hot springs and such. Iceland uses it a lot because they have the necessary geological formations. We simply do not have the ability to drill deep enough to find hot enough conditions to make any power except at the special places mentioned above. And there are not enough such places. Also, it is not as clean as you think. Neighbors of the geothermal plant in northern California have complained about large amounts of sulfur dioxide gas, polluted mud and other noxious stuff coming from the plants.

Answer 7

its because we are a gasoline and oil nation and geothermol power plants are good for the environment and how is the government going to gouge prices if the power plant doesnt run on oil

Answer 8

Because it's only available in limited areas.

Answer 9

There are only a few locations where this is possible and even there it is not really economic.