Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geothermal Energy

Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

  • 555 Accesses

Abstract

While most renewable energies are, directly or indirectly, derived from the sun, geothermal energy originates in the interior of the earth. Geothermal energy is the most stable of the renewable energies because it can be utilized constantly, regardless of weather or season. Geothermal energy can be used not only for power generation but also for direct heat application. The development of geothermal power generation entered a phase of rapid growth in 2005, and its total installed capacity worldwide reached 10.7 GWe in 2010. The capacity of 10.7 GWe appears small when compared with solar and wind power generation; however, the high-capacity factor of geothermal power plants, which is 0.7–0.9, provides several times greater electricity from the same installed capacity than photovoltaic and wind plants. Direct heat application can be used almost anywhere on land. Geothermal resources are classified into two categories: hydrothermal convection resources and thermal conduction resources. Today’s geothermal power capacity is mainly hydrothermal-based and unevenly distributed in volcanic countries. As a borehole is drilled into deeper formations, formation temperature becomes higher but permeability becomes lower. Hydrothermal convection resources have a limit depth. Rock’s brittle-plastic transition gives a bottom depth to permeability, and it is the absolute limit depth for the hydrothermal convection resources. Enhanced or engineered geothermal systems (EGS), in which fractures are artificially created in less-permeable rocks and heat is extracted by artificially circulating water through the fractures, are still at a demonstration stage, but they will extend geothermal power generation to thermal conduction resources and to depths even deeper than the brittle-plastic transition. Assessment of worldwide geothermal resource potential is still under study. However, an estimate shows that potential is 312 GWe for hydrothermal resources for electric power generation to a depth of 4 km, 1,500 GWe for EGS resources to a depth of 10 km, and 4,400 GWth for direct geothermal use resources. Were 70 % of hydrothermal resources, 20 % of EGS resources, and 20 % of direct-use resources to be developed by 2050, it could reduce carbon dioxide emission by 3.17 Gton/year, which is 11 % of the present worldwide emission.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bertani R (2010) Geothermal power generation in the world 2005-2010 update report. In: Proceedings of world geothermal congress 2010 (CD-ROM), Bali, 41 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Brace WF, Kohlstedt DL (1980) Limits on lithospheric stress imposed by laboratory experiments. J Geophys Res 85(B11):6248–6252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brook CA, Mariner RH, Mabey DR, Swanson JR, Guffanti M, Muffler LJP (1979) Hydrothermal convection systems with reservoir temperature ≥90°C. In: Assessment of geothermal resources of the United States – 1978, vol 790, Circular. U.S. Geological Survey, Oak Ridge, pp 18–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Buonasorte G, Cataldi R, Passaleva G (2007) Geothermal development in Italy: from present to future. In: Proceedings of European geothermal congress 2007 (CD-ROM), Unterhaching, 9 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Darma S, Harsoprayitno S, Setiawan B, Hadyanto, Sukhyar R, Soedibjo AW, Ganefianto N, Stimac J (2010) Geothermal energy update: geothermal energy development and utilization in Indonesia. In: Proceedings of world geothermal congress 2010 (CD-ROM), Bali, 13 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson MH, Fanelli M (2004) What is geothermal energy? http://www.geothermal-energy.org/314,what_is_geothermal_energy.html

  • Fournier RO (1991) The transition from hydrostatic to greater than hydrostatic fluid pressure in presently active continental hydrothermal systems in crystalline rock. Geophys Res Lett 18:6248–6252

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs K, Kozlovsky EA, Krivtsov AI, Zoback MD (1990) Super-deep continental drilling and deep geophysical sounding. Springer, Berlin, 436 p

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kaieda H (2009) Hot dry rock geothermal power technology. In: Kaieda H et al (eds) Geothermal power generation. Thermal and Nuclear Power Engineering Society, Tokyo, pp 117–126 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanamori H (1978) Chapter 2: structure of the earth. In: Uyeda S, Mizutani H (eds) Iwanami earth science lecture course 1: earth. Iwanami-Shoten, Tokyo, pp 45–98 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawless J (2002) New Zealand’s geothermal resources revised. In: Proceedings of the New Zealand geothermal association seminar, Taupo

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindquist KG, Engle K, Stahlke D, Price E (2004) Global topography and bathymetry grid improves research efforts. EOS Trans AGU 85(19):186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lund JW, Freeston DH, Boyd TL (2010) Direct utilization of geothermal energy 2010 worldwide review. In: Proceedings of world geothermal congress 2010 (CD-ROM), Bali, 23 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning CE, Ingebritsen SE (1999) Permeability of the continental crust: implications of geothermal data and metamorphic systems. Rev Geophys 37:127–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of the Environment, Japan (2011) State of utilization of hot springs in the fiscal year 2009. 1 p (in Japanese). http://www.env.go.jp/nature/onsen/data/index.html

  • Mizutani H, Watanabe T (1978) Chapter 4: geothermal science. In: Uyeda S, Mizutani H (eds) Iwanami earth science lecture course 1: earth. Iwanami-Shoten, Tokyo, pp 169–223 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mongillo MA (2005) Saving factors for geothermal energy utilization. International Energy Agency (IEA) – Geothermal Implementing Agreement (GIA), 4 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Muffler LJP, Cataldi R (1978) Methods for regional assessments. Geothermics 7:53–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulas de Pozo P, Gómez DN, Holland FA (1985) Developments in geothermal energy in Mexico – part one: general considerations. Heat Recovery Syst 5:277–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H (1993) A scope of the picture of future geothermal resources in the viewpoint from magma. Chinetsu (Geothermal) 30:100–126 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H (2005) The blessings of volcanoes: the front line of the utilization of geothermal heat. AIST Today 16:16

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H, Ohtani T (2000) Profiling of the Kakkonda geothermal system by the bulk rock chemical analyses of the well WD-1a. Rept Geol Surv Jpn 284:35–55 (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H, Uchida T, Sasada M, Yagi M, Akaku K, Sasaki M, Yasukawa K, Miyazaki S-I, Doi N, Saito S, Sato K, Tanaka S (1998) Deep geothermal resources survey program: igneous, metamorphic and hydrothermal processes in a well encountering 500°C at 3729 m depth, Kakkonda, Japan. Geothermics 27:507–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H, Tateno M, Okubo Y (1999) Brittle-plastic transition penetrated by the well WD-1a beneath the Kakkonda geothermal field, Japan. In: Proceedings of the GSJ workshop “Fault Rocks and Seismic Process”, Geol. Surv. Japan Interim Report, no. EQ/99/1, pp 66–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H, Sakaguchi K, Tamanyu S, Sasaki M, Shigeno H, Mizugaki K (2007) Atlas of hydrothermal systems in Japan. Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, Tsukuba, 110 p (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H, Sakaguchi K, Komazawa M, Sasaki S (2008) 2008 assessment of hydrothermal resources potentials in Japan. In: Abstracts of 2008 meeting of Geotherm. Res. Soc. Japan, Kanazawa, B01 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (1996) FY 1995 report of the deep geothermal resources survey program. 887 p (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmason G, Johnsen GV, Torfason H, Saemundsson K, Ragnars K, Haraldsson GI, Halldorsson GK (1985) Assessment of the geothermal resources of Iceland. Orkustofnun Report OS-85076/JHD-10, 134 p (in Icelandic)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siebert L, Simkin T (2002) Volcanoes of the world: an illustrated catalog of holocene volcanoes and their eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Digital Information Series, GVP-3. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/

  • Stefansson V (2005) World geothermal assessment. In: Proceedings of world geothermal congress 2005 (CD-ROM), Antalya, 6 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajika E (1996) Chapter 2: composition of the earth. In: Matsui T et al (eds) Iwanami earth science lecture course 1: introduction to earth and planetary sciences. Iwanami-Shoten, Tokyo, pp 47–100 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi E (1996) Chapter 3: differentiation. In: Matsui T et al (eds) Iwanami earth science lecture course 1: introduction to earth and planetary sciences. Iwanami-Shoten, Tokyo, pp 111–161 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tester JW, Anderson BJ, Batchelor AS, Blackwell DD, DiPippo R, Drake EM, Garnish J, Livesay B, Moore MC, Nichols K, Petty S, Toksöz MN, Veatch RW Jr (2006) The future of geothermal energy – impact of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) on the United States in the 21st century. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 358 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessel P, Smith WHF (1998) New, improved version of the generic mapping tools released. EOS Trans AGU 79:579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams CF, Reed MJ, Mariner RH, DeAngelo J, Galanis SP Jr (2008) Assessment of moderate- and high-temperature geothermal resources of the United States. Fact Sheet 2008-3082, U.S. Geological Survey, 4 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright PM (1999) Summary of worldwide geothermal resources. Lecture given at the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng K (2004) Newest statistics of geothermal development in China. In: Proceedings of 6th Asian geothermal symposium, Daejeon, pp 85–90

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. North Japan Research Institute for Sustainable Energy, Hirosaki University, 2-1-3 Matsubara, 030-0813, Aomori, Japan

    Hirofumi Muraoka

Authors
  1. Hirofumi Muraoka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hirofumi Muraoka .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Mississippi Dept. Chemical Engineering, University, Mississippi, USA

    Wei-Yin Chen

  2. Advanced Manufacturing Research Inst. Functional Assembly Technology Group, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Nagoya, Japan

    Toshio Suzuki

  3. und Technische Biowissenschaften, TU Wien Inst. Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik, Wien, Austria

    Maximilian Lackner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Muraoka, H. (2015). Geothermal Energy. In: Chen, WY., Suzuki, T., Lackner, M. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_35-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_35-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6431-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Geothermal Energy
    Published:
    03 October 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_35-3

  2. Original

    Geothermal Energy
    Published:
    23 June 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_35-2

Search

Navigation