Economics of Geothermal Direct Heat Applications
- Key words
- Economics; Direct Use; USA; Oregon; South Dakota; Colorado; DOE; Production Rate; Taxes; Royalties; Equity; Comparative Analysis; Capital Cost
- Location
- Klamath Falls, Oregon; Pierre, South Dakota; Haakon, South Dakota; Philip, South Dakita; Pagosa Springs, Colorado
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1981
- Session
- Economics; Direct use; District heating/cooling
- Language
- English
Abstract
Cost and production data from five commercial scale geothermal direct heat application projects are reviewed. Unit costs of geothermal energy under a variety of assumptions, about production levels, costs, tax treatment, financial structure, and cost of capital are calculated and compared to prices of conventional fuels which would be displaced over the life of a geothermal project. Geothermal energy is found to be less costly than distillate fuel oil for all cases examined and cheaper than natural gas in many cases.
Copyright 1981, Geothermal Resources Council. Readers who download papers from this site should honour the copyright of the original authors, and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.