Premium
Geothermal systems and their energy resources
Author(s) -
White Donald E.,
Guffanti Marianne
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg017i004p00887
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , geothermal energy , geology , earth science , volcanism , resource (disambiguation) , hot spring , hydrothermal circulation , environmental science , geophysics , seismology , computer science , computer network , tectonics
Geothermal systems have not been reviewed comprehensively in previous IUGG Quadrennial Reports, although thermal aspects of the shallow crust were considered by Diment (1975). Nearly all types of geothermal systems are reviewed in this report, with emphasis on U. S. systems that are most likely to be utilized as energy sources. Active volcanism and the generation and evolution of magma are not considered in detail. Outstanding advances in geothermal resource utilization include: (1) Rapid growth in electrical generation from hydrothermal convection systems. All installed capacity in the U. S. to date (610 MW e in February, 1979) is from the huge vapor‐dominated system at The Geysers, California. Rapid expansion of capacity to ∼1200 MW e is expected by 1982; this includes at least 200 MW from several hot‐water systems, now that the most serious technological, environmental, and Federal leasing problems seem to have been solved; (2) Increasing interest in low‐temperature geothermal waters for non‐electrical (direct) uses; (3) Recognition of the resource potential of the geopressured environment of the Gulf Coast for geothermal and methane energy.