| Title | Substitution Value of Geothermal Energy as Process Heat and Electric Power |
|---|---|
| Authors | Meal, Harlan C.; Guillamon-Duch, Higinio |
| Year | 1979 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Economics; Energy Substitutes; USA; Direct Use; Power Generation; Energy Value; Therm; High Temperature; Displaced Energy Cost; Investment Costs; US DOE; MIT |
| Abstract | Geothermal energy can be used for direct applications as industrial process heat or for conversion to mechanical energy in order to generate electric power. These two application have been compared for a saturated liquid resource on the basis of the value of energy displaced, either fuel oil process heat or electricity. Using $2.50 per million Btu as the value of fuel oil (about 40 cents per gallon) and 2.5 cents per KWh as the value of electricity, a geothermal source at 400°F provided a greater return as process heat as long at the process temperature is less than 325°F. These comparisons do not include capital costs, only the value of the displaced energy is considered. Since capital costs are much higher for eclectic powers generation, inclusion of these costs will make the advantage of process heating even greater. |