Geothermal Development Potential for Small Island Nations Situated Along the Pacific-Ring of Fire

Abstract

Geothermal energy has a great potential for meeting a major portion of the electrical and thermal energy requirements for many of the Pacific island nations, that form volcanic island arcs that have been active since the early Tertiary along the southwestern portion of the Pacific .Ring of Fire.. Energy requirements of these small, scattered island nations preclude development of conventional generating facilities of sufficient size to incorporate any economies of scale. By attempting to discover and develop shallow, relatively low temperature, geothermal reservoirs, exploration expenditures and risks and problems associated with the development of high temperature resources can be reduced. Exploration and development drilling for these resources can be accomplished with truck mounted rotary drilling rigs that are less costly and more suitable for operation within the island infrastructures than the conventional oil and gas rigs normally used in the drilling of deep, high temperature geothermal resources. Experience over the past decade with the discovery and development of small, moderate temperature geothermal resources indicates that geothermal energy can provide a reliable source of baseload electricity in the amounts required for the Pacific island nations at a cost of approximately $4,000per installed and annual operation, maintenance, and well replacement costs of between $170 and These costs are more than competitive with other available alternative energy sources and would provide island nations with access to an indigenous source of clean, environmentally benign energy. Development of shallow, moderate temperature, geothermal resources with small, modular binary-cycle generating units can provide an ideal energy source for many of the Pacific island nations within the framework of their island economies.