Economic Impacts of DOE Geothermal Technology R&D
- Key words
- R & D Projects; Case Histories; Economic Impact; USA; Utilization Projects; Cost Reduction; Power On Line; Efficiencies; Well Cost; Electric Systems; High Temperature Reservoirs; US DOE
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1979
- Session
- Economics
- Language
- English
Abstract
We analyzed 113 current and recent projects of the three R&D programs of the Utilization Technology Branch of the Division of Geothermal Energy. The R&D projects were grouped into 55 product oriented sets, for which engineering/economic impacts on 50 Mwe (net) hydrothermal electric plants of various types and at various locations were estimated. The results suggest that the impacts of these R&D efforts should reduce the cost of geothermal electricity from such plants by 18% to 38% by 1985. The largest share of these savings will result from reduced well costs and increased power plant efficiencies. The overall benefit/cost ratio of the Geothermal Utilization Technology R&D program appear to better than 10:1.
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