Prospects of Geothermal Energy Use in the Kuril Islands

Abstract

The Kuril Islands have unique natural complexities that are of great importance for geopolitics and social economics of Russia (Fig. 1). In Kuril Islands, power engineering suffers great difficulties operating due to challenges in fuel deliveries. At the same time, there are well-known geothermal manifestations and deposits in this area which might help solve the problem. The potential electric capacity is estimated to be 295 MW through 100 years of exploitation; explorations were done in all large islands of the Kuril ridge near the main built-up areas (StrategyÖ, 2001). The Northern Kuril deposit in Paramushir island (estimated to be 40 to 100 MW), Oceanic deposit in Iturup (60 MW) and Mendeleeva-Goryachiy Plyazh in Kunashir (60 MW) are first among them (StrategyÖ, 2001; Belousov et al., 2002; Rychagov et al., 2004). Working models of some geothermal manifestations and deposits in the Kuril Islands are represented, their electric and thermal capacity potential evaluated and prospects of geothermal energy use in the regional economy are shown summarizing results of geological-geophysical studies and prospecting-exploring activities.