Geothermal Technology
Geothermal technology is a tried and tested process that is neither new nor revolutionary, having been used by humans for thousands of years. Beginning in BC 3rd century China during the Qin dynasty, people first began using geothermal heated water as a place to bathe. In the 1st century AD, the Romans also began using geothermal power to heat their buildings and spas through the hot water and hot steam sources located near the earth’s surface. The fees charged for admission to these public bathhouses constitute the first commercial use of geothermal power. Many other countries in areas of high volcanic activity historically also displayed uses for the geothermal resources from space heating, to cooking and bathing among others. The first geothermal power generator converting the earth’s heat and steam into useable electricity was created in Italy by Prince Piero Ginori Conti in 1904. He then helped create the world’s first commercial geothermal power plant in 1911 at the same location, which remained the only industrial sized power producer in the world until a New Zealand power plant came online in 1958.
Geothermal System Diagram
There are many specific advantages and benefits realized by the generator, the consumer as well as the greater community when producing electricity using geothermal technology. Many factors contribute to operating the grid, which are the poles and lines that distribute the electricity from the power generation plant to the end user, at peak optimal capacity. The flow of electricity into the grid should be at a constant rate, preventing the line from expanding or contracting creating stress on the system that has the potential to shut down the entire grid. Having the electricity at a constant rate entering into the system also minimizes the loss of electricity during the transfer from the point of generation to the end consumer. These are 2 of the main advantages of geothermal over the other more popular alternative energy solutions such as wind turbines and photovoltaic solar panels. Geothermal technology produces electricity at a constant, quasi-controllable rate 24 hours a day 7 days a week with very minimal impact to the grid. Solar panels and wind turbine electricity generation are classified as being “intermittent,” which is defined as only being available sometimes and at varying rates, which then gets inputted into the grid at non-constant rates.
Maori Women Cooking at Whakarewarewa
Geothermal technology also works really well with the new “Smart Grid” technology that is being incorporated by electricity generators around the world (including the Hawaiian Electric Company) in an effort to increase the efficiency in which, electricity gets used by the consumer. Smart grids are defined as an intelligent monitoring system that keeps track of all electricity flowing in the grid. Using two-way digital technology, a generator is now able to optimize the amount of electricity used by the consumer, saving energy, which in turn reduces cost, increases reliability and promotes transparency. Geothermal technology is one of the few renewable sources of electricity production that controls the flow of electricity into the grid keeping it at a constant rate, which significantly lessens the stress into the grid and the amount of adjustments needing to be made by individual controllers. Having a grid shut down for any reason is no benefit to anyone. Using geothermal technology allows many of the preventable problems that cause a shut down of the grid to be minimized.
Hellisheidi, Iceland Powerplant
There are also many direct use benefits associated with geothermal technology. The electricity generation process produces extremely hot water as a natural by product of the power station. Many communities around the world have used this hot water to help develop many for profit ancillary services or business revolving around the geothermal power plant. Some of these are but not limited to, bathing, space heating, artificial agriculture (greenhouse heating, aquaculture and aquaponics), timber, seed, fish, fruit, vegetable and clothes drying, Ethanol distillation and biodiesel production. The water, which is high in minerals is also believed to have healing benefits and is used in Balneology, which is defined as the “treatment of disease by bathing.”
"Blue Lagoon" in Iceland
More information on geothermal technology can be found at the websites listed below. They detail and discuss the many technological advancements that have taken place in the geothermal field that is pushing the efficiency of the plants to further lower the impact on the environment and many risks that have negatively affected geothermal in the past. Each geothermal resource is unique, requiring a different type of drilling program and extraction technique to be used for each resource. These websites do a really good job explaining the different technologies used in geothermal power plants and the different factors that go into choosing the right type of technology for each resource. IDG is committed to using the most appropriate technology for each of its projects. It is not locked into any one particular technology or company allowing us to find the perfect match for the resource we are working with.
Website Links:
Geothermal Energy Association – http://www.geo-energy.com
International Geothermal Association (IGA) Website - http://www.geothermal-energy.org/
Geothermal Education Office (GEO) Website - http://geothermal.marin.org/
IEA Geothermal Energy Website - http://www.iea-gia.org/default.asp
Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Website - http://www.geothermal.org/what.html
Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Eruption - Iceland
