Geothermal Ed 4 - 2007

Abstract

Introduction

• Geothermal heat is a significant provider of energy in a small number of countries, all located in regions subject to earthquakes and volcanoes
• Geothermal power generation capacity worldwide rose from 7,972.7 MW in 2000 to 8,933 MW in 2005, with 8,035 MW running. This is about 0.2% of the total world installed power generating capacity
• Ground-Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) or geoexchange, is the fastest growing geothermal application today, faster than power generation or any other form of direct use
• GSHP is a highly efficient renewable energy technology that is gaining wide acceptance for both residential and commercial buildings, with 1.4 million installations worldwide by 2005, and growth from 1,854 MWt of capacity in 1995 to 15,284 MWt in 2005
• The three countries with the largest amount of installed direct heat use capacity are USA, China and Iceland

Report Scope

• This report provides an excellent introduction and understanding of the three technologies for exploiting geothermal energy; power generation, GSHPs (ground source heat pumps), direct use (excluding GSHPs)
• It the industry' s development and use of technology, power generation, efficiency and location of resources
• It provides an overview of geothermal energy, capacity and utilisation
• The geothermal power industry is reviewed looking at the power operators and equipment manufacturers
• Geothermal revenue and costs are analysed, including generation, construction and equipment costs
• The report looks at country use and development of geothermal energy with an analysis of the major market places - North America, Central America & Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa
• A listing of major geothermal manufacturers with address and telephone and fax numbers where available is provided at the end of the report

Key Findings

• A significant new geothermal technology is reviewed for the first time, GSHPs (ground source heat pumps). This technology made its debut in the last five years and is already the largest single exploiter of geothermal energy. The principles on which it operates are completely different from power generation or all other forms of direct use of geothermal heat
• In 2005 and 2006 the United States showed strong signs of renewed growth for geothermal power generation
• Five states now have geothermal power generating facilities; California, Nevada, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii
• Future developments are planned, with projects being considered in some 55 stages. Not all of these will happen since some are in the pre-planning phase and others are awaiting approval
• The opinion in the geothermal industry in the US is up-beat for future expansion
• Japan, Philippines and Nicaragua have all announced ambitious plans for further development of geothermal power, followed by Mexico, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Kenya
• Newcomers in the electric power sector are Ethiopia (1998), Guatemala (1998), Austria (2001) and Nicaragua