DCC6242 BASIC BUILDING

SERVICES
LECTURER

: MAZLINA BINTI ABDUL GHANI

PRESENTATION 1: GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN POWER

SUPPLY

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

By:
ARJUN KUMAR

-11DKA14F1028

WONG CHUN KIAT

-11DKA14F1076

TEE PHEY SHUNG

-11DKA14F1019

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

The word geothermal is derived from two Greek words: geo which
means "Earth" and thermal which means "heat.". It's clean and
sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow
ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's
surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of
molten rock called magma.Most power plants need steam to generate
electricity. The steam rotates a turbine that activates a generator, which
produces electricity. Many power plants still use fossil fuels to boil water
for steam. Geothermal power plants, however, use steam produced from
reservoirs of hot water found a couple of miles or more below the Earth's
surface.
There are three types of geothermal power plants:
Dry steam
Dry steam power plants draw from underground resources of steam. The
steam is piped directly from underground wells to the power plant, where
it is directed into a turbine/generator unit. There are only two known
underground resources of steam in the United States: The Geysers in
northern California and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, where
there's a well-known geyser called Old Faithful. Since Yellowstone is
protected from development, the only dry steam plants in the country are
at The Geysers.
Flash steam
Flash steam power plants are the most common. They use geothermal
reservoirs of water with temperatures greater than 360F (182C). This
very hot water flows up through wells in the ground under its own
pressure. As it flows upward, the pressure decreases and some of the hot
water boils into steam. The steam is then separated from the water and
used to power a turbine/generator. Any leftover water and condensed
steam are injected back into the reservoir, making this a sustainable
resource.

Binary cycle
Binary cycle power plants operate on water at lower temperatures of
about 225-360F (107-182C). These plants use the heat from the hot
water to boil a working fluid, usually an organic compound with a low
boiling point. The working fluid is vaporized in a heat exchanger and used
to turn a turbine. The water is then injected back into the ground to be
reheated. The water and the working fluid are kept separated during the
whole process, so there are little or no air emissions.Small-scale
geothermal power plants (under 5 megawatts) have the potential for
widespread application in rural areas, possibly even as distributed energy
resources. Distributed energy resources refer to a variety of small,
modular power-generating technologies that can be combined to improve
the operation of
the
electricity
delivery system.
How do they
geothermal

produce
energy?

In
order
to
enough energy
ricity, geotherm
rely on heat that
kilometers below
Earth. In some
can
naturally
as
pockets
water.

obtain
to generate elect
al power
plants
exists
a
few
the surface of the
areas, the heat
exist underground
steam
or
hot

Where geothermal energy is found in the world?

Germany; 6%
Japan; 4%
Iceland; 4%

France; 5%

United States; 36%

Turkey; 6%
Italy; 2%

China; 37%

Where geothermal energy is stored?

Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth.
Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter.
The geothermal energy of the Earth's crust originates from the original
formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of materials
(80%).
The Uses of Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy has more uses than you might imagine. Basically,
geothermal energy technology taps into subsurface areas where desired
temperatures exist. The uses of geothermal energy range depending on
the needs.
Uses of Geothermal Energy for Houses
If youre looking to cool your home in the summer, for example, one of the
uses of geothermal energy technologies is to allow you in hot times to
take heat from your house, send it down pipes into the ground (where it
naturally cools), and return it to your house (where it helps bring down the
temperature inside). The technology typically uses a liquid like antifreeze
as a carrier of that heat, which is moved about in a closed-loop piping
system.One of the other main uses of geothermal energy is the same
concept but in reverse in cold months. Geothermal energy technology is
used to bring warmer temperatures into your home without using fossil
fuels, just by tapping into a heat exchange deep below the surface of the
earth. But geothermal energy is so much more.
Uses of Geothermal Energy in Farming

Some of the common uses of geothermal energy are amongst farmers,

who use geothermal energy to heat their greenhouses.In Tuscany, Italy,
farmers have used water heated by geothermal energy for hundreds of
years to grow vegetables in the winter. Hungary is also a major user of
geothermal energy, where eighty percent of the energy demand from
vegetables
growers
is
met
using
geothermal
energy
technology.Geothermal energy is also used in fish farms.The warm water
spurs the growth of animals ranging from alligators, shellfish, tropical fish,
amphibians to catfish and trout. Fish farmers from Oregon, Idaho, China,
Japan, and even Iceland use geothermal energy.
Uses of Geothermal Energy in Industry
Industry is another consumer of geothermal energy. Its uses vary from
drying fruits, drying vegetables, drying wood, and dying wool to extracting
gold and silver from ore. Check out this cool graphic from the state
of Californias energy almanac for the varying.temperatures needed for a
variety of industrial geothermal energy uses.
Geothermal Energy in Infrastructure & Electricity
Geothermal energy is also used to heat sidewalks and roads in order to
prevent freezing in the winter. Most recently, the Netherlands began using
geothermal energy to keep bike lanes from freezing in the wintertime, for
instance.
Advantages of Geothermal Energy
1. Environmentally Friendly
Geothermal energy is generally considered environmentally friendly. There
are a few polluting aspects of harnessing geothermal energy (read more
about them in the disadvantages section), but these are minor compared
to the pollution associated with conventional fuel sources (e.g. coal, fossil
fuels)The carbon footprint of a geothermal power plant is minimal. Further
development of our geothermal resources is considered helpful in the fight
against global warming.An average geothermal power plant releases the
equivalent of 122 kg CO2 for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity it
generates one eight of the carbon emissions associated with a typical
coal power plant.

2. Renewable
Geothermal reservoirs come from natural resources and are naturally
replenished. Geothermal energy is therefore a renewable energy
source.Sustainable is another label used for renewable sources of energy.

In other words, geothermal energy is a resource that can sustain its own
consumption rate Unlike conventional energy sources such as coal and
fossil fuels. According to scientists, the energy in our geothermal
reservoirs will literally last billions of years.
3. Massive Potential
Worldwide energy consumption about 15 terawatts (TW) is not
anywhere near the amount of energy stored in earth. However, most
geothermal reservoirs are not profitable and we can only utilize a small
portion of the total potential. Realistic estimates for the potential of
geothermal power plants vary between 0.035 to 2 TW.Geothermal power
plants across the world currently deliver about 10,715 megawatts (MW) of
electricity far less than installed geothermal heating capacity (about 28,000
MW).

4. Stable
Geothermal energy is a reliable source of energy. We can predict the
power output of a geothermal power plant with remarkable accuracy. This
is not the case with solar and wind (where weather plays a huge part in
power production). Geothermal power plants are therefore excellent for
meeting the base load energy demand.Geothermal power plants have a
high capacity factor actual power output is very close to total installed
capacity.The global average power output was 73% (capacity factor) of total
installed capacity in 2005, but as much as 96% has been demonstrated.

5. Great for Heating and Cooling

We need water temperatures of more than 150C (about 300F) or greater
in order to effectively turn turbines and generate electricity with
geothermal energy.Another approach is to use the (relatively small)
temperature difference between the surface and a ground source. The
earth is generally more resistant to seasonal temperature changes than
air. Consequently, the ground only a couple of meters below the surface
can act as a heat sink/source with a geothermal heat pump (much in the
same way an electrical heat pump works).We`ve seen a tremendous
growth in the number of homeowners that utilize geothermal
heating/cooling in the last couple of years.

Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy

1. Environmental Issues
There is an abundance of greenhouse gases below the surface of the
earth, some of which mitigates towards the surface and into the

atmosphere. These emissions tend to be higher near geothermal power

plants.Geothermal power plants are associated with sulfur dioxide and
silica emissions, and the reservoirs can contain traces of toxic heavy
metals including mercury, arsenic and boron.Regardless of how we look at
it, the pollution associated with geothermal power is nowhere near what
we see with coal power and fossil fuels.
2. Surface Instability (Earthquakes)
Construction of geothermal power plants can affect the stability of land. In
fact, geothermal power plants have lead to subsidence (motion of
theearths surface) in both Germany and New Zealand.Earthquakes can
be triggered due to hydraulic fracturing, which is an intrinsic part of
developing enhanced geothermal system (EGS) power plants.Just a couple
of years ago (January 1997), the construction of a geothermal power plant
in Switzerland triggered an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 on the
Richter scale.
3. Expensive
Commercial geothermal power projects are expensive. The exploration
and drilling of new reservoirs come with a steep price tag (typically half
the costs). Total costs usually end up somewhere between $2 7 million
for a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 1 megawatt (MW).As
previously mentioned, most geothermal resources cannot be utilized in a
cost-effective manner, at least not with current technology, level of
subsidies and energy prices.The upfront costs of geothermal heating and
cooling systems are also steep. On the other hand, these systems are
likely to save you money years down the line, and should therefore be
regarded as long-term investments. Ground source heat pumps typically
costs $3,000 $10,000 and have a payback time of 10 20 years.
4. Location Specific
Good geothermal reservoirs are hard to come by. Some countries have
been blessed with great resources Iceland and Philippines meets nearly
one third of their electricity demand with geothermal energy.
If geothermal energy is transported long distances by the means of hot
water (not electricity), significant energy losses has to be taken into
account.
5. Sustainability Issues
Rainwater seeps through the earths surface and into the geothermal
reservoirs over thousands of years. Studies show that the reservoirs can
be depleted if the fluid is removed faster than replaced. Efforts can be
made to inject fluid back into the geothermal reservoir after the thermal
energy
has
been
utilized
(the
turbine
has
generated
electricity).Geothermal power is sustainable if reservoirs are properly

managed. This is not an issue for residential geothermal heating and

cooling, where geothermal energy is being used differently than in
geothermal power plants.

Geothermal Energy in Malaysia

Nation
Home > News > Nation
Monday, 7 April 2014

Malaysia’s first geothermal plant set to boost green

energy
KOTA KINABALU: Green energy in Malaysia will receive a boost when the
countrys first geothermal plant in Sabahs east coast starts producing
electricity in two years.
The geothermal power plant in Tawau is being developed by Tawau Green
Energy Sdn Bhd, and is projected to add 30MW to Sabahs grid by the
second quarter of 2016, a statement from the company yesterday
reported.
Tawau Green Energy is headed by Lebanese managing director Ramzi
Raad, 52, who has 26 years experience in heavy equipment, earthmoving machinery as well as power-generation equipment.
The first phase will include digging exploratory wells to establish the
parameters and potential of the geothermal reservoir.
Output from the plant will be sold to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd via 132KV
interconnections to the grid under a 21-year renewable energy power
purchase agreement.
More good news is that the project is expected to offset some 200,000
tonnes of CO emissions annually.
The potential of the Apas Kiri area, about 540km from here by road, was
discovered between December 2008 and January 2009 after the Minerals
and Geoscience Department conducted geoelectric surveys there.
The survey covered an area of about 50 sq km around the Apas Kiri
geothermal surface manifestations, and it was determined that there was
a sub surface hot water field measuring about 12 sq km.
Calculations estimated that the area had a potential to host a geothermal
power plant with the capacity of 67MW at a depth of 2.5km.

Tawau Green Energy also said it would create a resource centre that would
bring stakeholders and specialists in the geothermal energy industry
together to provide capacity building for this new industry in Malaysia.
The resource centre is aimed at providing training and short courses in
applied geosciences, geothermal exploration, geothermal drilling, as well
as steamfield and power plant design and operations.
Apart from that, the resource centre also functions as a platform for local
universities to collaborate with foreign institutions in the field of
geothermal energy.
Tawau Green Energy had also signed several MoUs with state agencies
and institutions such as the University of Auckland as well as Universiti
Malaysia Sabah to cement its ambition.
The company is embarking on collaborations with the Iceland-based
United Nations Universitys Geothermal Training Programme and Institut
Teknologi Bandung of Indonesia.
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