GEOTHERMAL ENERGY!
(the Dutch situation)
Wednesday 26-6 I attended a hearing / roundtable conference (Read REPORT) on geothermal energy (or aardwarmte in
Dutch), organized for members of the Dutch Lower House (2e kamer) Specialists
from "the field" came to share experiences, insights and techniques
and there was a shared & very
positive outlook on the future
Although you might be tempted to equate geothermal
energy mainly with countries such as Iceland ,
Philippines , Kenya etc. with
much volcanic activity, in Netherlands
Geothermal energy: for starters one must immediately distinguish between (relatively) low caloric (or temperature) heat and high caloric heat. The latter is primarily utilized for generation of electricity. There is - in theNetherlands Friesland ",
including tip Noordoostpolder) for ultra-deep geothermal well exploration. During this
session that was not specifically addressed.)
Geothermal energy: for starters one must immediately distinguish between (relatively) low caloric (or temperature) heat and high caloric heat. The latter is primarily utilized for generation of electricity. There is - in the
The literature indicates that for
electricity (present-day technology!) that wells be drilled into "Hot Dry
Rock" and that under favourable conditions where > 220 ° C temperature
steam is obtained, pumps would not be necessary and electricity with good efficiency
is generated. But in the Netherlands
As the name suggests, HDR, this is dry strata in which the transmission of heat is directly from stone on transmission fluid. That is an important difference with geothermal low caloric energy. Then one specifically drills into porous strata which are hydrous, and are located less deep plus – advantageous for wide public acceptance - they are porous layers so no "Fracking" is needed! HDR may require "fracking" but in many cases only high pressure water injection is sufficient.
Just a note: Because the drilling for geothermal aims for water bearing strata (or HDR) there is little or no chance for leakage of Methane, unlike with drilling for shale gas. Since Methane in the first 20 years as much as 75 to 100 times more potent greenhouse gas as CO ² that is hugely important!
Another important aspect that was mentioned: theNetherlands has a lead over other countries... since the 60s,
in the Netherlands (for about 50 billion (guilders probably?)) drilling and
seismic testing has yielded an almost complete and very detailed image of the
subsurface top 2 KM ... AND that information is public domain, allowing everyone to use it improve
one’s chances for success, without any need for costly tests. A national heritage, so to speak. Drill much
deeper than that however and the "image" is less detailed, increasing
the risk of a "Miss", so right now the deeper you drill the bigger
the cost, uncertainty and risk.
As the name suggests, HDR, this is dry strata in which the transmission of heat is directly from stone on transmission fluid. That is an important difference with geothermal low caloric energy. Then one specifically drills into porous strata which are hydrous, and are located less deep plus – advantageous for wide public acceptance - they are porous layers so no "Fracking" is needed! HDR may require "fracking" but in many cases only high pressure water injection is sufficient.
Just a note: Because the drilling for geothermal aims for water bearing strata (or HDR) there is little or no chance for leakage of Methane, unlike with drilling for shale gas. Since Methane in the first 20 years as much as 75 to 100 times more potent greenhouse gas as CO ² that is hugely important!
Another important aspect that was mentioned: the
The speakers were quite unanimous: we can (and should) use "low-caloric"
geothermal energy. Low caloric – less than 100°C - geothermal energy is
perfect for heating, sometimes for business - think of drying things for
example - and in terms of energy about 40% of the total primary energy use for
the Netherlands
Are water bearing Unlike natural gas, oil, shale gas, coal gas, etc. layers with a suitable temperature below the Netherlands for, see this map with temperatures on 2 KM depth! A geothermal resource well drilling is much cheaper than shale gas: different techniques!
Are water bearing Unlike natural gas, oil, shale gas, coal gas, etc. layers with a suitable temperature below the Netherlands for, see this map with temperatures on 2 KM depth! A geothermal resource well drilling is much cheaper than shale gas: different techniques!
(map) Temperature at 2000 meters depth © TNO NITG
In the recent past there was speculation among politicians in
In my view this also means that the idea
to exploit a failed shale gas well drilling for geothermal energy instead will
not work most of the time because of technical problems. So "pot luck" shale gas
drilling thinking it will otherwise be used for geothermal company is NOT a
good idea.
Technically it is possible to use geothermal
energy from about 60 ° (!) C already to generate electricity in so-called Binary Cycle power plants. However, they have a low efficiency: about 15% or so
and generate 1 MW or less it seems. Good for “individual “ use, buildings etc, but not for the national
power grid.
The efficiency for electricity generation from (ultra-)deep wells is currently between 20% and 25% (of the thermal power of the well), because in most every case one has to pump water in and out of the well.
The efficiency for electricity generation from (ultra-)deep wells is currently between 20% and 25% (of the thermal power of the well), because in most every case one has to pump water in and out of the well.
New developments in drilling & well casings will be game changers
for geothermal electricity so they need constant monitoring on the status of
developments.
Geothermal energy is, once the well is drilled and the technical installation is in situ there are virtually no operating costs! Depending on usage, a thermal well might eventually be exhausted but if it is economical to pause production, the well will "regenerate".
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Geothermal energy is, once the well is drilled and the technical installation is in situ there are virtually no operating costs! Depending on usage, a thermal well might eventually be exhausted but if it is economical to pause production, the well will "regenerate".
================================
The near future?!!
This all is still based on drilling
techniques that have essentially been in use since the mid 1800’s! But there
are revolutionary innovations being developed, they right around the as it were,
that will make deep or ultra-deep drilling much cheaper and in double-quick
time! Actually; we’re going to need new definitions what deep or
ultra-deep is… J
Technically: * laser drilling * and “composite”
pipe & casing. Boreholes from
75,000 to 100 THOUSAND foot are already being talked about ..
This will be HUGELY significant! Most thermal power plants generate
electricity by burning fossil fuel, often coal! It will be relatively easy and
very cost-effective to replace the boiler part and use geothermal steam
instead! Existing plants, already hooked up to the power grid must be quickly
made emission-free, starting with the coal-fired ones!
Drilling tunnels
will be MUCH faster, cheaper, could be longer… storing nuclear waste at 60
thousand feet or deeper… much will change.
16-10-2014
16-10-2014
