| Abstract |
Scaling up geothermal from a niche industry to a viable, global industry is important for all our collective decarbonization efforts. Here we explore the distribution of geothermal projects globally to understand where projects have been positioned to date. Looking forward we recommend that future geothermal exploration and development be conducted using a Linnean-style classification system for geothermal entities, modified from oil and gas best-practice. Hierarchical thinking and the pre-discovery exploration triangle will provide the technique for gaining the ‘big picture’ context about the location of the optimal geothermal plays and prospects. Furthermore, the engineering approach used to complete a geothermal project significantly impacts the economics of the project, and that engineering should not be confused with play type, which at the highest level is either hydrothermal or petrothermal. In this study we explore the distribution of Natural hydrothermal systems (NHS), Open loop Geothermal Systems (generically known EGS), Closed Loop geothermal circuit (generically known CLG or AGS). Our findings reveal in Latin America geothermal power plants are concentrated into 3 geodynamic domains only and 7 tectonic domains, producing a total of 1843.3 MWe. It is observed that in the region the top 3 tectonic domains, with respect to MWe capacity are Wide Rifts - Gulf of California Coast, 788 MWe, the Central American Arc, 637 MWe, and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, 289.3 MWe. |