| Abstract |
To date we have tended to dedicate our geothermal systems to a single use; i.e. either as an energy source, as is the case with The Geysers field in California, or as a tourist reserve, as with Yellowstone National Park. With increased energy demand on a local scale we may wish to extract some energy in some areas but at the same time retain the tourist attractions that these areas have. This is already the case in the Whakarewarewa-Rotorua area in New Zealand. The questions currently being asked of us with regard to that area are: "Is such combined use possible?" "How much energy will be available (or what are the energy costs of the retention of the tourist features)?" and levels of energy extraction?" What are the costs in terms of the tourist features of various 11 As these questions are almost certain to be asked elsewhere in the future it is relevant to introduce and discuss them here. In this attempt at some answers, I will look first at our experience in the Wairakei, New Zealand, area and then discuss the Whakarewarewa- Xotorua case. |