Science & Technology: Study Concludes Geothermal Can Help in Decarbonisation of the Power Generation Industry

The environmental impacts and the carbon intensity of geothermal energy: A case study on the Hellisheiði plant (Environment International)

This article focuses on Hellisheiði, a combined heat and power double flash geothermal plant located in Iceland, with an installed capacity of 303.3 MW of electricity and 133 MW of hot water. The study has a twofold goal: (i) identify hot spots in the life cycle and, where possible, suggest improvements, and (ii) understand the potential of geothermal energy to decarbonise the power generation industry.

The comparison shows that the carbon intensity of Hellisheiði is in the range of 15–24 g CO₂-eq./kWh, which is similar to those of binary cycle geothermal plants, solar (photovoltaic) and hydropower, lower than other geothermal technologies and fossil-based technologies, and higher than nuclear and onshore wind.

The results demonstrate that geothermal energy, alongside other alternative and renewable sources, can play a substantial role towards achievement of the Paris Agreement goal and the decarbonisation of the power generation industry. Further work should investigate the relation between utilization of geothermal energy and the natural release of greenhouse gases from geothermal systems.

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The environmental impacts and the carbon intensity of geothermal energy: A case study on the Hellisheiði plant. By Andrea Paulillo, Aberto Striolo, and Paola Lettieri (Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, WC1 E7JE, United Kingdom) Environment International - Volume 133, Part B, December 2019, 105226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105226