Sustainable Geothermal Production and CO2 Emission Reduction

Abstract

Numerical model simulations show that geothermal resources can be utilized in a sustainable way, by applying lower production levels. Such strategies secure the longevity of the resource. Since no burning processes are involved, geothermal technologies produce little or no greenhouse gas emissions. Growth estimates show that global geothermal electricity production in 2050 could reach 1000 TWh/yr; this corresponds to mitigating hundreds of million tons CO2/yr, depending on what is substituted. Direct use, including geothermal heat pumps, has a mitigation potential of 5 million tons of CO2/yr in 2050.