For its first Big Question feature of 2012, Renewable Energy World asked its readers to share their hopes and fears, opinions and predictions for the year ahead given the outcomes (or lack thereof) of the climate negotiations in Durban, ongoing shakeouts in major renewable energy sectors and the challenging global economic climate. Giving an opinion on the immediate future of geothermal is Dr. Roland Horne of Stanford.
Roland Horne, President, International Geothermal Association
The past five years have brought considerable changes to geothermal development, which has accelerated in many parts of the world, both in countries (such as New Zealand, Indonesia and the US) that have a traditional interest in ‘conventional’ geothermal resources, and in countries without this historical interest (such as Australia and Germany).
The past five years have brought considerable changes to geothermal development, which has accelerated in many parts of the world, both in countries (such as New Zealand, Indonesia and the US) that have a traditional interest in ‘conventional’ geothermal resources, and in countries without this historical interest (such as Australia and Germany).
Some new developments have followed well-worn paths in conventional hydrothermal resources in volcanic regions, while Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) projects in non-volcanic regions have struck out in new directions. Technology has allowed for development of conventional resources with lower temperature, restricted water access, and constrained surface utilization. EGS projects have launched in a variety of different directions and places (the US currently has six active EGS developments).
Future expansion depends on exploring for new fields and overcoming technical challenges in known but not-yet-exploited fields. Two issues that are currently being addressed by the world geothermal community are:
- the ‘productivity gap’ in the exploitation of fields that are too hot for downhole pumps, but too cool for flash production; and
- the development of reliable EGS development procedures that can ensure sustainable flow rates and assure the public that induced seismicity will not be a problem.