CO2 Emission Mitigation by Geothermal Development – Especially with Geothermal Heat Pumps
- Key words
- Power generation, direct use, CO2 emission avoidance, real emission reduction.
- Conference
- World Geothermal Congress
- Year
- 2010
- Session
- 2. Environmental and Societal Aspects
- Language
- English
- Paper number
- 0209
Full text
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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. Environmental and societal benefits are thus obvious.
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