Written by Nicole Robson

As the world faces energy shortages and increasing demands for electricity from renewable resources versus the traditional coal, oil, and gas, geothermal energy is a valuable, largely untapped resource. Geothermal literally means, “Earth’s heat.” The earth’s heat naturally moves from hotter to cooler regions along a geothermal gradient, from the centre of the earth to the surface. Some of this heat is concentrated in the form of steam or hot water at temperatures and depths favorable to commercial extraction for the production of electricity. A geothermal plant simply converts the hot water to steam, and uses it to power a turbine.

There are many benefits to geothermal energy because it is a base-load power meaning that it is producing 24 hours a day, and unlike wind or solar energy, it has the ability to be turned on or shut down when needed. Geothermal power sources produce long-term revenues with no fuel costs and no dependency on outside factors such as oil and gas supply, and prices. Leaving only a small, ecological footprint, geothermal energy has minimal impact on the environment, and requires a relatively small area of land for production. Plus, it produces virtually no air emissions compared to other renewables, which allows the land surrounding a geothermal plant to be used for agriculture, livestock, and hunting.

Geothermal energy is a clean, renewable, and reliable resource that can be tapped by many countries around the world. It has been produced as far back as 1904 in Larderello, Italy, where, at present, they produce 10% of the geothermal energy worldwide. As of 2005, there was an installed capacity worldwide of 8,933.20 MW of electricity from geothermal, and a 2007 report issued by Glitnir Bank estimated geothermal potential worldwide at 148,800 MW – this would be enough energy to power over 119 million homes.

Commercial scale projects are typically found along the Pacifi c Rim, and are common in areas such as Mexico, Japan, Western United States, and Chile. Currently, geothermal production in the US exceeds all other countries, and is concentrated mainly within the western states. Production can be found in six states ncluding Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, with New Mexico, Wyoming, and Oregon soon to be added to the list. As of January 2008, there was 2,936.5 MW of production operating online in the US, where California alone accounts for 2,541.3 MW.

California has long been a supporter of renewable energies, driven by the State’s legislated Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (RPS), which requires a retail seller of electricity to purchase at least 20% of that electricity from renewable energy resources by the year 2010. The State government is actively considering increasing the RPS percentage to 33% by 2020. In 2006, approximately 15% of all electricity consumed in Californiacame from renewables such as geothermal, wind, and small hydro.

Geothermal is thef largest non-hydro renewable energy source in California, and the state is home to the largest dry steam field in the world, The Geysers Field. With 21 geothermal power plants producing approximately 900 MW of electricity, current operators include Calpine, Ormat, CalEnergy, and Northern California Power Agency. New projects are being developed in The Geysers Field by Western GeoPower Inc. and Calpine, which could add up to an additional 100 MW of production.

Another area on the Pacifi c Rim of fi re with geothermal potential is n British Columbia. BC has not yet developed its potential for geothermal production; however, there is ongoing exploration at several locations. The Geological Survey of Canada has identifi ed the Meager Volcanic Complex in BC as the best geothermal prospect in Canada.

BC Hydro, British Columbia’s public power utility, recently completed an updated Resource Options Report of renewable energy potential in the province, which incorporated details on just four “conceptual” geothermal prospects. Subsequent to release of the report, an additional project was publicized and could be added to the conceptual category. Together, these geothermal projects total a maximum geothermal potential of some 1,550 MW according to resource estimates from BC Hydro and the project developers.

Although British Columbia is a province rich in hydroelectric power resources, current power demand exceeds supply. As a result BC Hydro has been a net importer of energy for the past seven years. The province will require 1,200 MW of new capacity by 2010, increasing to over 4,000 MW by 2023. BC Hydro recently announced a call to the independent power producers (IPP’s) for 5,000 gigawatt hours of electricity from proven renewables such as geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro. This is the largest call for power since 2006 in the province, and marks further evidence of rising power demands.

As the world focuses on how to lessen the impacts of global warming and combat the rising costs of oil, and gas, the tremendous untapped potential of geothermal energy will prove to play a signifi cant role in fi nding an answer to the worldwide call for cleaner, sustainable energy sources.

Western GeoPower Corp. | http://www.geopower.ca/