Coming up on Feb 18
Added 2023-02-17 12:09:06 +0000 UTCThere's a lot of energy below our feet. But how much can geothermal energy realistically help with reaching net zero? What are the risks, what are the problems, and is it carbon neutral in the first place? On Saturday, I'll sort out the numbers for you.
Comments
No answers here. Until 'we' find the holy grail, I think countries will need to determine what works best for them. Since companies tend to favor technologies that provide a continuous revenue stream, "best" is a somewhat loaded word.
D Brown
2023-02-18 04:36:46 +0000 UTCWhat I had in mind was electricity generation from geothermal sources. There are two types, flash and binary cycle. Flash resources are rare and usually far from where the power is needed, so you have to spend on transmission lines. Binary efficiency varies a lot, especially in the summer time, so I would not consider it base load, even though it is sold as such. Heat pumps were recommended in a NYT article about a year or so ago and they do sound promising.
Rad Antonov
2023-02-17 16:23:04 +0000 UTCIs there a distinction in the industry between "hot" geothermal sources and the geothermal associated with a home underground heat pump? Heat pumps are advertised as being extremely efficient -- worth the extra cost of installation in savings. I know some areas of the US are mandating heat pumps in new construction and a lot of places are offering tax incentives to make the switch from a gas furnace to a heat pump -- although these are usually air-to-air heat pump systems.
2023-02-17 16:12:03 +0000 UTCNot much. I say that based on a restructuring experience with a geothermal company. Finding a bid for it and getting it off the books eventually was a relief. There are better uses of capital on the path to net zero than drilling for hot water.
Rad Antonov
2023-02-17 15:08:02 +0000 UTC
