Potential national benefits of geothermal electrical energy production from hydrothermal resources in the West
The potential national benefits of geothermal electric energy development are estimated for several different scenarios. This analysis uses a computer simulation of the U.S. electrical economy using a linear programming optimization technique. Under most of the scenarios, the benefits are estimated at $2--$4 billion over the next 50 years on a discounted present value basis. The electricity production from hydrothermal plants reaches 2--4 percent of the national total which will represent 10--20 percent of the installed capacity in the West. Installed geothermal capacity in 1990 is estimated to reach 9,000--17,000 MWe. The peak geothermal capacity reaches 28,000--65,000 MWe by year 2015. The ''most likely'' scenario yields the lower values in the above ranges. Under this scenario geothermal development would save the utility industry $11 billion in capital costs (undiscounted); 32 million separative work units; 64,000 tons of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/; and 700 million barrels of oil. The most favorable scenario for geothermal energy occurred when fossil fuel prices were projected to increase at the rate of 5 percent/year. The benefits of geothermal energy then exceeded $8 billion on a discounted present value basis.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(45-1)-1830
- OSTI ID:
- 7361943
- Report Number(s):
- BNWL-SA-5798; CONF-760906-4
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 11. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, State Line, NV, USA, 12 Sep 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
POWER GENERATION
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
AVAILABILITY
USA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
FOSSIL FUELS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
NUCLEAR FUELS
OPTIMIZATION
POWER POTENTIAL
PUBLIC UTILITIES
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESOURCES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
150101* - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability- USA- (-1989)