Page 76 - North American Clean Energy January February 2014

geothermal energy

Valuing Geothermal Power

In today’s renewable energy market

move ahead with more aggressive Renewable Portfolio generation are impacting grid reliability, quantifying the impact and beneits of various
AS STATES, SUCH AS CALIFORNIA,
Standards (RPS) and seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, state oicials are inding resources to integrate intermittent generation, and what new policies should be adopted to
they need to consider the full value of the power sources they use.
manage the changing electric grid.’”
he RPS places an obligation on electricity supply companies to produce a speciied As the report indicates, these questions are gaining in importance as the United States
fraction of their electricity from renewable energy sources. A full understanding of
expands its renewable power production, which today means, “generating approximately

the energy sources available and their inherent beneits are, therefore, important to 14% of the electricity” nationwide. Much of this is coming from wind and solar photovol-
maximizing clean power. Such a review is critical to ensuring consumers are ofered the taic technologies that rely heavily on the prevailing weather conditions in order to generate
most afordable overall energy system costs, with a complete understanding of the many power.

diferent reasons for choosing clean, alternative power sources.
According to the report, “Geothermal power ofers both irm and lexible solutions to the
As far as power goes, geothermal provides a uniquely reliable and continuous source
changing US power system by providing a range of services including, but not limited to:
of clean energy. As a baseload renewable resource, a geothermal energy plant operates baseload, regulation, load following or energy imbalance, spinning reserve, non-spinning
24 hours a day and seven days a week, regardless of changing weather or the time of day. reserve, and replacement or supplemental reserve.”

Unlike burning fossil fuels, geothermal energy has minimal impacts on the environment, Geothermal’s baseload capacity makes it particularly valuable for replacing retiring fossil
as the process emits no greenhouse gases, pollution, or hazardous wastes.
fuel facilities. “Geothermal energy is a renewable power source that can provide baseload
his form of energy is nothing new. he very irst recorded geothermal power and lexible power, quickly adjusting to it the needs set by variable renewable energy tech-
generator was tested back in 1904 in Italy, and successfully lit four light bulbs. By nologies,” states the report.

1911, the world’s irst commercial power plant was built there. But the largest group of As the percentage of electricity produced from intermittent sources increases, the stress
geothermal power plants in the world is located at he Geysers, a geothermal ield in on an aging power system designed for fossil fuels encourages renewable energy’s role as an
California.
important part of the power supply mix.
Today, the global geothermal market has approximately 12,000 megawatts (MW) of Looking beyond the beneits to the power system, the report also summarizes other key

geothermal capacity on-line. Plus, there are some 1,766 MW of new geothermal capacity beneits of geothermal power, including various economic and environmental beneits.
in early stages of development, or under construction, in 70 countries and territories For instance, one of the most important economic aspects of geothermal energy is that
around the world. Developers are continuously and actively exploring potential new it’s completely local. It’s generated using indigenous resources, which reduces dependence
developments.
on imported, environmentally unfriendly energy sources (such as oil). In turn, this also

To help address any related questions that arise, a new, joint report has been released, reduces trade deicits.
entitled “he Values of Geothermal Energy: A Discussion of the Beneits Geothermal he industry has positioned itself to grow more by 2020 than ever before. “We are seeing
Power Provides to the Future US Power System.” he report highlights the values of new technology developments move forward, and new projects being announced in every
geothermal in today’s renewable energy market as a viable power source option.
region of the world,” remarked Karl Gawell. “Despite slow growth in the United States,

the global market continues to gain steam. So, many American geothermal companies are
Key timing
using their industry know-how in friendlier economic and political climates overseas.”
“his is a timely report,” said Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy GEA president Craig Mataczynski of Gradient Resources has challenged the industry this
Association (GEA). “he California PUC recently noted active questions before policy year, to reach a ive percent of total US electricity production. To reach this goal it will take

makers in California and elsewhere, speciically: ‘How increasing amounts of intermittent
advancements in geothermal technology and recognition of the full value of geothermal power.

76 nacleanenergy.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014