Geothermal Applications: Development of New State of the Art Drilling Rigs for Geothermal Use

Abstract

Geothermal energy is the most promising of renewable energy sources. In Iceland, for example, oil and gas for heating purposes have nearly disappeared from the market, with nearly 85 % of its heat coming from geothermal energy resources. One of the biggest geothermal energy power plants of the world is called "The Geysers" in the North of the US state California. It provides an electrical power of about 1,400 Megawatts and is therefore able to cover the biggest part of the power requirement of San Francisco´s municipal area, which is located 170 km in the South. Further geothermal energy power plants exist in other countries including, Kenya, Turkey, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, El Salvador, the Carribean and the Azores. Australia is experiencing an impressive upswing in the field of Deep Geothermal Energy.