| Title | Marginally Competitive Pricing of Geothermal Resources for Electric Power Production |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cassel, Thomas A. V.; Amundsen, Chris B.; Edelstein, Robert H.; Blair, Peter D. |
| Year | 1979 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Economics; Electric Power; Pricing; Baseload; Cast Elements; Competitive Price; Calculated Price; Hydrothermal Resources; Western Coal; US DOE |
| Abstract | In the absence of imposed price regulation, the cost competiveness of geothermal electric energy may be determined at its point of delivery to a major transmission corridor. At this point, its total energy cost - including "fuel" cost, power plant cost, and apportioned transmission cost - competes with those costs of the least expensive available alternative type baseload generation. This paper discusses a mathematical approach for estimating a geothermal resource price - escalating over time - which will ultimately provide marginally competitive electric energy at the transmission corridor. Examples are provided for pricing 300°F and 500°F hydrothermal resources where western coal is the lowest alternative type of generation. |