Status, Development and Prospects of Geothermal Energy

Abstract

The basis of geothermal energy is the immense heat content of the earth’s interior. It is constantly supplied by the decay of natural radioisotopes, since billions of years. The resource is vast and ubiquitous and has a correspondingly large potential for utilization. There are two main lines of geothermal energy utilization: power generation and direct use. Worldwide base-load electricity production is currently about 60 TWh, with 10 GWe capacity; until 2050 the capacity could grow over 150 GWe, with Enhanced Geothermal Systems significantly more. Geothermal technologies operate with little or no greenhouse gas emissions since no burning processes are involved; in 2050 the CO2 emission avoidance would amount to several hundred million tons per year.