Geothermal Energy
Per definition, geothermal energy is the energy stored in the form of heat below the earth’s surface. It has been used since ancient times for heating, and for about 100 years also for electricity generation. Its potential is inexhaustible in human terms, comparable to that of the sun. Beside electric power generation, geothermal energy is today used for district heating, as well as for the heating (and cooling) of individual buildings, including offices, shops, small residential houses, etc.
Geothermal-generated electricity was first produced at Larderello, Italy, in 1904. Iceland, Italy, Turkey and France are the leading countries in Europe today.
The largest geothermal district heating systems within Europe can be found in the Paris area in France, with Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and others showing a substantial number of interesting geothermal district heating systems. Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Austria are the leading countries in terms of market for geothermal heat pumps in Europe.
Geothermal power
Today, geothermal power plants exist on every continent, at any place were reservoirs of steam or hot water can be found. They produce, with conventional technology, 820 MW of electric power in the EU, around the clock. The relevant resources are far from being fully developed, also in Europe. The concept of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (including the classical Hot-Dry-Rock-idea) is going to tremendously increase the potential.
Deep and directly
The earth is full of energy: virtually any temperature level in the underground can be used directly, for instance with deep boreholes. Did you know that through deep boreholes almost 4500 MWth are already installed in Europe? 4500 MWth for a clean environment. However, once again, this is only a small fraction of the resources that could be exploited.
The shallow geothermal family
Virtually every temperature level in the underground can be used for geothermal energy, even if this means only ca. 3-15°C, as is the norm in the shallow underground of European climate. In most cases a heat pump is required here, and cooling can be supplied as well as heating. This technology provides again about 4500 MWth of heating capacity.
Geothermal energy: a local answer, ecological and efficient, to reduce energy costs
A renewable energy:
- an energy resource nearly infinite, delivering heat and power 24 hours a day throughout the year, and available all over the world
- energy supply by making use of the immense internal heat of the earth, and of the large thermal storage capacity of the ground
- friendly for the environment: contribution to the reduction of CO2
- very low visual impact - most of the infrastructure can be hidden beneath the ground
A safe and controlled technology:
- not depending on climatic conditions
- proven and controlled technically: design, drillings,
- components (power plants, district heating, heat pumps)
- excellent feedback from leading countries
An energy adaptable with high performance:
- an answer to different energy needs: electric power, heating, cooling, hot water
- modulated according to type of resource, to size and nature of equipments, and in order to meet demands
- for the heating sector: adaptable to old or new buildings, large or small, individual or district heating
An economically sustainable energy:
- large reduction of energy invoice
- long-term durability of installations
- not sensitive to conventional energy prices - the earth will not send an invoice!
Download the Geothermal energy brochure
For more information contact:
EGEC
European Geothermal Energy Association
www.egec.org