Geothermal Energy and Biomass

1. Geothermal Energy and Biomass Megan Vaillancourt

2. GEO VIDEO What is geothermal energy? Predicted that 10kmof Earth’s crust has 50,000x greater energy potential or power thanALLoil and natural gas reserves in the world. Super Heated Rocks in Earth’s Crust 2 METHODS OF ACCESSING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY 

3. WET geothermal energy • Uses the superheated groundwater  quickly brought to surface • Steam emitted from water spins turbines  drives the generators which create energy • Steam condenses  pumped back into ground • Large volumes of heated water can be hazards to local water systems and their aquatic life if let in

4. DRY GEOTHERMAL ENERGY • WHEN WE USE IT: • Areas where there is lots of heated rock, but not groundwater to access • Alternative water source is sought out  surfacewater • Surface water pumped into ground, then brought to surface to a location where the steam is used to create power • REVIEW: WET GEOTHERMAL ENERGY = GROUNDWATER • DRYGEOTHERMAL ENERGY = SURFACE WATER

5. NEW TECHNOLOGIES • Before now, only extreme heat underground was required to bring water to a boiling point temperature  making geothermal energy only accessible to active volcanic regions. • The use of low boiling liquids in closed boilers  allows geothermal energy to be accessed by more countries • # of countries able to harness geothermal electricity  DOUBLES by 2015 RESIDENTIAL GEOTHERMAL

6. Who has geothermal energy? • World leader in geo energy is the USA, followed by the Philippines + Indonesia • Top geothermal in Europe: Italyand Iceland • 10 of top 15geothermal producing countries are developing countries • GREAT RIFT VALLEY, AFRICA =10,000 KM of nearly inexhaustible energy • What could this bring to the developing world??

7. World’s largest geothermal complex • Mayacamas Mountains, California (20km N of San Francisco) • Natural occurring steam fields geysers • (Geysers: boiling hot springs of steamy water from cracks in earths plates) •  used for geothermal electricity • Home to 22 power plants that create enough energy to power a place bigger than San Fran + 800,000 people • Makes up 60% of the energy needs of North Coast region from San Fran to the Oregon border

9. Iceland • More and more industry is becoming geothermal based • 5 new plants proposed • Hellisheioi power plant  largest in Iceland • Inexpensively powers largest city , Reykjavik • Plans set in place to make plant biggest in the world

10. Does Canada use geothermal energy? • Canada sits on enough geothermal potential that we could power ALL of CANADA in 100 plants! • Power produced would be more than 1 million times more than Canada uses today • Could also heat homes in Canada  is expensive, and a investment • CAN. GOVERNMENT doesn’t want to fund commercial geothermal energy  WHY? • INITIAL COSTS ARE HIGH  deters government from funding • Takes up to7 years to produce energy  gov wont wait for profits • USA offers 27% tax credits to renewable energy companies  majority of USA plants are built/run by Canadian companies

11. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories  highest carbon footprint due to high heating • Plans to access geothermal energy to reduce footprint • Decided not to borrow money, looked to private developers instead

12. ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENGERY • RENEWABLE ENERGY  as long as rocks don’t cool • Doesn’t create acid rain/ greenhouse effect • No fuel needed to create power • Little habitat affected • Initial costs only  energy is basically free afterwards • Can be cheap alternative in volcanic areas like Iceland • Local power  eliminates power lines • Always available  no need for storage/ alternative source of energy i.e.: wind, solar,

13. Disadvantages of Geothermal energy • Rocks can cool  power generating plants not moveable • Salt / heavy metals brought to surface through groundwater  could contaminate local environment • Unwanted hydrogen sulphide gases may be emitted • Plants are noisy • Large amounts of heat released into atmosphere

14. BIOMASS

15. Peat: decayed vegetation Energy from living matter • Produced from plant / animal matter i.e.: wood, peat, grain waste, dung (animal excrement) • Mostly obsolete in well populated areas  small isolated locations use it abundantly • Saw + pulp mills burn large # wood waste and beehive burners • Wood Waste : damp, dry, brittle left over wood not usable by logging companies • Beehive Burners: cone shaped burners used in disposal of wood waste in logging yards + disposing of sawdust in sawmills • BC  moving to improve air quality; slowly banning beehive burners

16. Organic energy • Organic Waste: paper, wood, vegetable matter. • Waste-to-energy: garbage transformed into usually energy i.e.: garbage into steam for energy • Incinerators: huge burners that combust organic waste into new sources • In Burnaby, waste-to-energy is practiced and 250,000 tonnes garbage = 800,000 tonnes of steam power  sold to paper recycling plant in order to not use fossil fuels. • Charlottetown, P.E.I.  incinerator supplies a hospital w/ energy  saves 50,000 barrels of oil from being used per year • Incinerators create energy + recede garage volume by 90%

17. Methane gas • Methane Gas : greenhouse gas  odourless, colorless, flammable • Created by rotting garbage in landfills • Can be harnessed to create energy/ heat