How
many homes can be served by one megawatt of geothermal
energy?
How much geothermal energy
is currently supplied to the U.S.?
Are geothermal projects
currently being developed in the U.S.?
How much energy does geothermal
supply worldwide?
Do you want to know more
about existing geothermal electric power plants?
How many homes can be served
by one megawatt of geothermal energy?
One megawatt, equivalent to 1 million watts, can meet
the power needs of about 1,000 people. The geothermal
resources used throughout the United States today serve
2.8 million households. The potential for geothermal
use—megawatts available but not currently used—is
many times greater.
How much geothermal energy
is currently supplied to the U.S. ?
In 2003, geothermal was the third largest source of
renewable energy in the United States. The United States
has nearly 2800 megawatts of electricity connected to
the grid.(1) As
the world’s largest producer of geothermal energy,
The U.S. generates a yearly average of 15 billion kilowatt
hours of power, comparable to burning about 25 million
barrels of oil or 6 million short tons of coal per year
or 150 billion cubic feet of natural gas.(2)
The availability of renewable resources in the U.S.
varies significantly by region. In areas where geothermal
resources are available, such as California, the percentage
of electricity derived from geothermal sources can exceed
7 times the national electricity average. Most geothermal
production is concentrated in the western states.
In California, the state with the largest amount of
geothermal power on-line, electricity from geothermal
resources accounted for 5 percent of the state’s
electricity generation in 2003 on a per kilowatt hour
basis.(3) Geothermal
is the largest non-hydro renewable energy source in
the state, nearly equaling the combined total of all
other renewable sources of electricity, excluding large
scale hydro.
Are geothermal projects
currently being developed in the U.S.?
Between January and May 2005, there were 483 megawatts
of new geothermal power purchase agreements signed.
These new projects are located throughout California,
Nevada, Arizona, and Idaho, and represent the power
generation equivalent of the total 2,000 megawatts of
wind projects operating throughout California today.
Other developing power projects in Utah, Idaho, and
California, including development on Indian lands and
small-scale projects in New Mexico, Alaska, Nevada and
California are not included in this total. The Western
Governors Association Geothermal Task Force identified
over 100 sites with roughly 13,000MW of power potential
with near-term development potential.
Direct uses applications are found today in 26 states,
almost as many states as coal is produced. New direct
use projects are encouraged by the provisions of the
Geothermal Steam Act Amendments passed by Congress in2005.
There is interested in new direct use projects in numerous
states and on Indian reservations.
Geothermal heat pumps installations have been growing
at an annual rate of 15 percent, with over 600,000 units
installed in the U.S. in 2005. 50,000 to 60,000 new
units are installed every year in the U.S. -- the largest
growth in the world for geothermal heat pumps.
How much energy does geothermal
supply worldwide?
According to a 2005 ENEL report, geothermal supplies
8900 MW to 24 countries worldwide. Geothermal energy
today meets the total electricity needs of some 60 million
people worldwide — roughly the population of the
United Kingdom.
Since 2000, geothermal generation has tripled in France,
Russia, and Kenya. Three new countries—Austria,
Germany, and Papua New Guinea—have been added
to the list of those producing power. Countries as diverse
as the Philippines, Iceland, and El Salvador generate
an average of 25 percent of their electricity from geothermal
sources, and geothermal serves 30 percent of Tibet’s
energy needs. The United States continues to produce
more geothermal electricity than any other country,
comprising some 32 percent of the world total.
In 2005, 72 countries reported utilizing geothermal
energy for direct uses, providing over 16,000 MW of
geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is used directly
for a variety of purposes, including space heating,
snow melting, aquaculture, greenhouse production, and
more.
Do you want to know more
about existing geothermal electric power plants?
Information about existing U.S. geothermal power plants
can be found here.
(1) Gawell, et al (1999). Geothermal Energy: the Potential for Clean Power from the Earth. Geothermal Energy Association, Washington, DC.
(2) Using Energy Information Administration (EIA) average geothermal energy production, 1990 – 2003, and EIA conversion information
(3) California Energy Commission (2002). Overview of Geothermal Energy in California. Retrieved November 8, 2004. from, http://www.energy.ca.gov/geothermal/overview.html.
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