| Abstract |
The UK Department of Energyís Geothermal Hot Dry Rock (HDR) Programme was last reviewed in 1987/88, when a number of technical problems were identified. These related to the size of reservoir (heat exchanger), its thermal behaviour (short circuits) and water losses. A programme of work to address these problems was subsequently set up. This work has recently been reviewed. The main conclusions are: a satisfactory procedure for creating a commercialscale HDR reservoir has yet to be demonstrated; there is a dearth of information on rock properties at the 6-7 km depths needed for a commercial reservoir; a satisfactory method of sealing short circuits has not yet been demonstrated; although it is difficult to determine accurately the economics of HDR because of these technical uncertainties, it is believed that electricity from a commercial HDR power station is unlikely to be competitive with conventional means of generation in the short to medium term; despite the earlier promise of the technology, HDR has been shown over the past two years to be still at an early stage of development and it is unlikely to attract private sector funding in the short term; participation in a joint European programme offers the opportunity of resolving some of the technical uncertainties. |