CO2 Emission Mitigation by Geothermal Development--Especially with Geothermal Heat Pumps
- Key words
- Power Generation; Direct Use; CO2 Emission Avoidance; Real Emission Reduction
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2009
- Session
- Geothermal heat pumps; Carbon dioxide; Air quality; Renewabl
- Language
- English
Abstract
Geothermal technologies for power generation or direct use operate with little or no greenhouse gas emissions. Geothermal energy development has thus great CO2 emission reduction potential when substituting fossil sources of energy. Geothermal development estimates for 2050 indicate that power generation could mitigate CO2 emissions by 100’s of Mt/yr, direct use >300 Mt/yr, most of it by geothermal heat pumps. These need electricity; its source must be considered. Real CO2 emission reduction results only when fossil-fired installations are being replaced; otherwise only additional emission can be avoided.
Copyright 2009, 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.