Potential for Geothermal Direct Use in the Greenhouse, Lumber, Chemical, and Potato and Onion Processing Industries

Abstract

It has generally been assumed that rising energy costs in industries with high energy needs for low temperature process heat will induce increasingly widespread geothermal direct use, so long as technical feasibility and cost advantages can be demonstrated. However, few systematic attempts have been made to determine how industry management and technical personnel within these industries view this possibility in light of factors they deem important to their own firms energy supply choices. This paper discusses that subject in relation to potential commercial geothermal use in the greenhouse, lumber, chemical, and potato and onion processing industries. It is based upon extensive interviews with decision makers in over 50 firms representing various segments of these industries and is a selected synthesis of material compiled into reports of each industry.