Geothermal: hot energy for the future

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · N.M. Bus. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5355230

Thompson, C

Using hot groundwater for indoor space heating and water heating has now emerged as a possibility that may alter New Mexico's energy future dramatically. The commitment to geothermal development at the state level has attracted national attention and funding. The New Mexico Energy Institute at New Mexico State University (NMEI-NMSU) in Las Cruces, where geothmal resources have been located, is a lead agency for federally sponsored operations research in the ten-state Rocky Mountain Basin and Range Region. The first production well will draw 17 gallons of water per minute at 118/sup 0/F to supply energy for hot water and space heat in the NMSU University Center Complex now under construction. Mechanical equipment will include air conditioning and a standard heat pump adapted to use hydrothermal energy. A reinjection well to pump cooled water back into the ground will round out the system. The Rio Grande Rift, which parallels the Rio Grande river's course down the middle of the state, is a vast geologic fault system that allows heat from the earth's core to rise conveniently close to the surface. Many of the state's major population centers sit atop this fault. The convenient hot water has given rise to many public and private schemes ranging from space heating, a geothermal greenhouse, and even industrial process heat for drying and dyeing operations. (SAC)

• OSTI ID: 5355230
• Journal Information: N.M. Bus. J.; (United States), Journal Name: N.M. Bus. J.; (United States) Vol. 4:4; ISSN NMBJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150400 -- Geothermal Energy-- Legislation & Regulations
151000* -- Geothermal Energy-- Direct Energy Utilization
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Geothermal-- (-1989)
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL PROCESS HEAT
GEOTHERMAL SPACE HEATING
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
HEAT
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESS HEAT
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RIO GRANDE RIFT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SOUTHWEST REGION
SPACE HEATING
USA
WELLS