TAPPING INTO THE POTENTIAL OF GEOTHERMAL POWER

There is a wealth of geothermal energy underneath the earth’s surface that can provide us with a renewable source of power

Geothermal energy is the only renewable energy capable of providing 24/7 base load capacity. The U.S. Department of Energy expects geothermal energy to increase 16-fold to 60 GWe by 2050, supplying 20% of U.S. renewable energy generation.

To reach this goal, we need to develop enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), man-made reservoirs created where there are high temperatures, but insufficient permeability for power generation.

THE PROBLEM

Limited Scalability of Traditional Geothermal Resources

There are only a few places in the world known for easily accessible geothermal energy, such as California and Iceland.

Unfortunately, most of the easily accessible geothermal resources have been developed. The remaining 95% of geothermal resources exist within low-permeability reservoirs.

The Future of Geothermal Power Generation

Innovations in drilling and reservoir stimulation technology are required to deliver geothermal energy to the rest of the world.
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Although hydraulic fracturing had tremendous success in the oil and gas industry, it has been mostly unsuccessful at creating sufficient permeability in the geothermal industry due to the extreme pressure and temperature conditions downhole. Eden’s Electrical Reservoir Stimulation technology can create evenly distributed permeability networks in the subsurface to maximize geothermal power generation.

The Future of Geothermal Power Generation

The remaining 95% of geothermal resources exist within low-permeability reservoirs.
‍
Although hydraulic fracturing had tremendous success in the oil and gas industry, it has been mostly unsuccessful at creating sufficient permeability the geothermal industry due to the extreme pressure and temperature conditions downhole. Eden’s electrical reservoir stimulation technology can create evenly distributed permeability networks in the subsurface to maximize geothermal power generation

THE SOLUTION

How Electrical Reservoir Stimulation Increases Geothermal Power Production

EGS struggles with short-circuiting, which occurs when a single fracture zone dominates the fluid flow and leaves most of the reservoir’s geothermal energy untouched.

Electrical Reservoir Stimulation enables greater directional control of the created fracture network, which allows target areas to be stimulated without creating short circuits. This maximizes the stimulated reservoir volume and ensures maximum power generation from the resource.

Cost of Hydraulic Fracturing vs. Electrical Reservoir Stimulation

Relative cost comparison of the first stimulation operation (E-HF #1) and the second stimulation operation (ERS #2). Subsequent stimulations with ERS are cheaper than hydraulic stimulation

Revenue of a Geothermal Power Plant Using Hydraulic Fracturing vs. Electrical Reservoir Stimulation Over 30 Years

$Revenue of a geothermal power plant using hydraulic fracturing vs. electrical reservoir stimulation over 30 years$

Environmental Impact

Utilizing electricity to stimulate saves 7M gallons water per well compared to hydraulic fracturing alone

Electricity from existing power infrastructure allows the technology to run on 100% renewable energy

Directional permeability enhancement generates 95% of fractures in the targeted zone

Installed Power Generation Capacity by Geothermal Resource Type

EGS achieve notable deployment rates with technology innovation as a result of significant reductions in installation capital cost. EGS is predicted to supply 8.5% of total electricity generated by 2050 (vs. 0.4% today).

Figure Note: The technology improvement (TI) scenario incorporates the resulting cost reductions that enable additional deployment. At the end of the analyzed period (2050), total geothermal deployment in the TI scenario is more than 60 GWe, with the majority of growth supplied by deep-EGS resource development after 2030.

Source: Department of Energy, DOE, “GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet.” Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office, (2016).