Economics of Some Direct Use Geothermal Schemes in the U.S.A.
- Key words
- Economics; Direct Use; USA; District Heating; Green Housing; Project Assessment; Food Processing; Heat Exchanger; Case Studies; Operating Costs; US DOE; Capital Costs; Competing Fuels
- Location
- Western United States
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1986
- Session
- Economics; Direct use; District heating/cooling; Space heati
- Language
- English
Abstract
The estimated costs and earning of 25 direct use geothermal schemes proposed and operating in the U.S. have been analyzed using a single economic approach. The economic indices which were obtained are reported and the relationship between the physical characteristics of the schemes and their economics is discussed. With a few notable exceptions, the internal rates of return are modest and in many cases are vulnerable to changes in assumptions about future developments in fossils fuels prices. Great variability was observed in the availability and the prices of fossil fuels from one scheme to another. This greatly complicated the techno-economic picture with the economics being determined as much by local fuel prices as by the physical characteristics. On average, greenhouse and process heating schemes were found to be the most attractive and heat pump application the least.
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