Potential of the Geothermal System in Phang Nga, Thailand

Abstract

Geothermal energy as an abundant energy source from the Earth's interior can be changed locally into geothermal electricity and thus will reduce the reliance on fossil oil. Besides this, electricity production from geothermal sources does not create emissions of CO2, one of the main gases responsible for man-made climate change. Further, in a renewable energy scenario geothermal power plants can provide stable base load in comparison to fluctuating sources like wind and solar. Hot springs are the visible form of active geothermal systems; Thailand has more than 112 hot springs from North to South with exit temperatures of up to 100 °C and more, thus indicating a significant potential for electricity generation. In Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, Fang, Thailand's first and only geothermal power plant is located and still in operation. In Southern Thailand electrical energy is in demand; hot springs here reach exit temperatures up to 75 °C. Here, the Phang Nag hot spring site, about 100 km north of Phuket, has been investigated with geological, geophysical and geochemical methods, indicating a geothermal reservoir at 1-1.5 km depth with possible 100 to 120 °C reservoir temperatures. This and basic geothermal parameter model with depth show, that, even with a borehole still in planning, a low enthalpy geothermal electrical energy technology is possible.