Why Geothermal
Geothermal energy has a long list of clear benefits:
Economic
- Geothermal utilization is a mature and proven technology, providing base-load power onto the grid with capacity factors as high as 98%.
- The development of a geothermal power plant often results in considerable ancillary economic benefits and has been shown to spur more surrounding economic activity than other forms of energy production.
- A geothermal power plant has low operation and maintenance costs. Like with other renewable energy projects, the operation of a geothermal power using an indigenous energy source with no fuel costs, increases energy security, often replacing imported fuels.
- The development of a geothermal power plant calls for a high level of investment in the host country, providing the area with long-lasting infrastructure, high-paying jobs, technology and know-how.
Environmental
- Geothermal power production uses a very low amount of land per MW of electricity produced.
- Greenhouse gas emissions are marginal for flash production and non-existent for binary or closed loop systems. The marginal emissions from geothermal brine extraction are minimized with re-injection. The emissions are in the range of 0-5% of those from a coal-burning power plant.
- A new geothermal development often displaces carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
