Geothermal EnergyBy: Billy Simon

DEFINITION

Geothermal Energy: is thermal energy generated and stored in the earth

Thermal Energy: is energy that determines the temperature of matter

COLLECTION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Dry Steam Plants- directly use geothermal steam to turn turbines

Flash Steam Plants-pull deep, high pressure hot water into lower pressure tanks and use the resulting flashed steam to drive turbines

Binary- Cycle Plants- pass moderately hot geothermal water by a second fluid with a much lower boiling point than water. This causes the second fluid to flash to vapors driving the turbine.

PRO’S OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Sustainability: it is a globally sustainable energy source

Availability: emerging technologies will continue to make it available in more areas

Cleaner: it is, on average, a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels

Safety: it is less dangerous, to develop and use than fossil fuels

QUESTION?

Is it more cost efficient to build a geothermal power plant compared to a power plant that uses natural gas?

How many years will it take for the pay back of the geothermal power plant to equal the cost of fuel used by a natural gas power plant?

DATA 1

Cost to build a Geothermal Power Plant?

$3,400 per kw installed A 100 mw Power Plant would cost

$340,000,000 Cost to build a Natural Gas Power

Plant? $1,200 per kw installed A 100 mw Power Plant would cost

$120,000,000

DATA 2

It takes 7cubic ft. of natural gas to produce 1 mw for an hour

7000 cubic ft. of natural gas = 100 mwh Natural gas prices: 1000 cubic Ft. = $7.00 7000 cubic Ft. * $7 = $49,000 of fuel per

hour $49,000 * 24 * 365 = $429,240,000 It would cost $429,240,000 a year to fuel a

power plant with natural gas

DATA 3

A Geothermal Power plant cost $340 million to build but doesn’t have to pay for fuel.

Leading to a cost of $340 million overall

A Natural gas fueled power plant cost $120 million to build but it cost $429,240,000 annually to purchase natural gas to fuel it.

Leading to a cost of $549,240,000 overall

RESULTS

I found that within a year the Geothermal power plant would be more cost efficient than a natural gas power plant.

It would save approximately $200 million in the first year.

LIMITATIONS

I assumed the power plants were operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

I also assumed that both power plants had comparable maintenance costs

CONCLUSION

Geothermal energy from the earth is a cleaner and cost efficient form of energy

More geothermal power plants should be built in order to help prevent pollution at a cheap cost

Questions?

REFRENCES "Geothermal Basics - Power Plant Costs."

Geothermal Energy Association. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://www.geoenergy.org/geo_basics_plant_cost.aspx#gas_coal>.

Ristinen, Robert A., and Jack J. Kraushaar. Energy and the Environment. 2nd ed. N.p.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006. N. pag. Print.

"Electric Power & Utilities: 1 Megawatt Hour Sale Price USA, Mw Power Plant, Gas Power Plants." AllExperts Questions & Answers. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://en.allexperts.com/q/Electric-Power-Utilities-2405/2009/3/1-Megawatt-Hour-Sale.htm>.