Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), geothermal energy generation in the United States is projected to more than triple by 2040 (EIA 2013). This addition, which translates to more than 5 GW of generation capacity, is anticipated because of technological advances and an increase in available sources through the continued development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) and low-temperature resources (EIA 2013). Studies have shown that air emissions, water consumption, and land use for geothermal electricity generation have less of an impact than traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation; however, the long-term sustainability of geothermal power plants can be affected by insufficient replacement of aboveground or belowground operational fluid losses resulting from normal operations (Schroeder et al. 2014). Thus, access to water is therefore critical for increased deployment of EGS technologies and, therefore, growth of the geothermal sector. This paper examines water issues relating to EGS development from a variety of perspectives. It starts by exploring the relationship between EGS site geology, stimulation protocols, and below ground water loss, which is one of the largest drivers of water consumption for EGS projects. It then examines the relative costs of different potential traditional and alternative water sources for EGS. Finally it summarizes specific state policies relevant to the use of alternative water sources for EGS, and finally explores the relationship between EGS site geology, stimulation protocols, and below ground water loss, which is one of the largest drivers of water consumption for EGS projects.
Citation Formats
TY - DATA
AB - According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), geothermal energy generation in the United States is projected to more than triple by 2040 (EIA 2013). This addition, which translates to more than 5 GW of generation capacity, is anticipated because of technological advances and an increase in available sources through the continued development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) and low-temperature resources (EIA 2013). Studies have shown that air emissions, water consumption, and land use for geothermal electricity generation have less of an impact than traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation; however, the long-term sustainability of geothermal power plants can be affected by insufficient replacement of aboveground or belowground operational fluid losses resulting from normal operations (Schroeder et al. 2014). Thus, access to water is therefore critical for increased deployment of EGS technologies and, therefore, growth of the geothermal sector. This paper examines water issues relating to EGS development from a variety of perspectives. It starts by exploring the relationship between EGS site geology, stimulation protocols, and below ground water loss, which is one of the largest drivers of water consumption for EGS projects. It then examines the relative costs of different potential traditional and alternative water sources for EGS. Finally it summarizes specific state policies relevant to the use of alternative water sources for EGS, and finally explores the relationship between EGS site geology, stimulation protocols, and below ground water loss, which is one of the largest drivers of water consumption for EGS projects.
AU - Harto, C. B.
A2 - Schroeder, J. N.
A3 - Horner, R. M.
A4 - Patton, T. L.
A5 - Durham, L. A.
A6 - Murphy, D. J.
A7 - Clark, C. E.
DB - Geothermal Data Repository
DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory
DO - 10.15121/1170247
KW - geothermal
KW - EGS
KW - enhance geothermal system
KW - power
KW - geology
KW - alternative water
KW - policy
KW - water
KW - water use
KW - desert peak
KW - the geysers
KW - newberry
KW - newberry volcano
KW - raft river
LA - English
DA - 2014/12/16
PY - 2014
PB - Argonne National Laboratory
T1 - Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies
UR - https://doi.org/10.15121/1170247
ER -
Harto, C. B., et al. Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies. Argonne National Laboratory, 16 December, 2014, Geothermal Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.15121/1170247.
Harto, C., Schroeder, J., Horner, R., Patton, T., Durham, L., Murphy, D., & Clark, C. (2014). Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies. [Data set]. Geothermal Data Repository. Argonne National Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.15121/1170247
Harto, C. B., J. N. Schroeder, R. M. Horner, T. L. Patton, L. A. Durham, D. J. Murphy, and C. E. Clark. Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies. Argonne National Laboratory, December, 16, 2014. Distributed by Geothermal Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.15121/1170247
@misc{GDR_Dataset_464,
title = {Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies},
author = {Harto, C. B. and Schroeder, J. N. and Horner, R. M. and Patton, T. L. and Durham, L. A. and Murphy, D. J. and Clark, C. E.},
abstractNote = {According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), geothermal energy generation in the United States is projected to more than triple by 2040 (EIA 2013). This addition, which translates to more than 5 GW of generation capacity, is anticipated because of technological advances and an increase in available sources through the continued development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) and low-temperature resources (EIA 2013). Studies have shown that air emissions, water consumption, and land use for geothermal electricity generation have less of an impact than traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation; however, the long-term sustainability of geothermal power plants can be affected by insufficient replacement of aboveground or belowground operational fluid losses resulting from normal operations (Schroeder et al. 2014). Thus, access to water is therefore critical for increased deployment of EGS technologies and, therefore, growth of the geothermal sector. This paper examines water issues relating to EGS development from a variety of perspectives. It starts by exploring the relationship between EGS site geology, stimulation protocols, and below ground water loss, which is one of the largest drivers of water consumption for EGS projects. It then examines the relative costs of different potential traditional and alternative water sources for EGS. Finally it summarizes specific state policies relevant to the use of alternative water sources for EGS, and finally explores the relationship between EGS site geology, stimulation protocols, and below ground water loss, which is one of the largest drivers of water consumption for EGS projects. },
url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/464},
year = {2014},
howpublished = {Geothermal Data Repository, Argonne National Laboratory, https://doi.org/10.15121/1170247},
note = {Accessed: 2025-05-28},
doi = {10.15121/1170247}
}
https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1170247
Details
Data from Dec 16, 2014
Last updated Jun 27, 2017
Submitted Dec 16, 2014
Organization
Argonne National Laboratory
Contact
Jenna N. Schroeder
202.488.2420
Authors
Keywords
geothermal, EGS, enhance geothermal system, power, geology, alternative water, policy, water, water use, desert peak, the geysers, newberry, newberry volcano, raft riverDOE Project Details
Project Name Water Use in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Geology of U.S. Stimulation Projects, Water Costs, and Alternative Water Use Policies
Project Lead Arlene Anderson
Project Number FY14 AOP 4.1.0.1
