The U.S. is heavily dependent on fossil fuels to produce
electricity. Geothermal energy, the heat in the earth's crust, can
provide an alternative source of energy for electricity production
as well as reduce fossil fuel consumption. The economic analysis
presented in this study focuses on binary cycle geothermal
electricity production. Variables such as well flow rate,
geothermal gradient and electricity prices were varied to study
their influence on the economic payback period for binary cycle
geothermal electricity production. Payback periods represent the
amount of time (in years) necessary to recover initial costs of
plant construction. Well flow rate has the greatest influence on
economic results. A 10-year payback period can be achieved with
almost any scenario as long as the electricity sales rates are
above 6 cents/kWh and the well flow rate is high (16,649 lit/min).
At a more modest flow rate (3,459 lit/min), most scenarios have
payback periods below 20 years as long as sales rates are above 6
cents/kWh. However, at the lowest flow rate (322 lit/min), no
scenario results in a payback less than 20 years unless electricity
sales prices reach at least 17 cents/kWh. Because geothermal
gradient is not as influential as flow rate, a large fraction of
the U.S. with modest thermal gradients can economically produce
geothermal electricity as long as site conditions allow high flow
rates.
General
Imprint: |
Biblioscholar
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
December 2012 |
First published: |
December 2012 |
Authors: |
Crissie D. Fitzgerald
|
Dimensions: |
246 x 189 x 4mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
84 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-288-40592-3 |
Categories: |
Books >
Social sciences >
Education >
General
|
LSN: |
1-288-40592-8 |
Barcode: |
9781288405923 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!