Why Geothermal
Geothermal energy has a long list of clear benefits:
Economic
- Geothermal utilization is a mature and proven technology and has been used to produce electricity since 1910. It provides base-load power onto the grid with capacity factors as high as 95%.
- The development of a geothermal power plant often results in considerable ancillary economic benefits and has been shown to spur more surrounding economic activity than other forms of energy production.
- A geothermal power plant has low maintenance and operations costs. Like with other renewable energy projects, the operation of a geothermal power plant often frees up foreign currency previously used for importing fuels.
- The development of a geothermal power plant calls for a high level of investment in the host country, providing the area with long-lasting infrastructure, technology and knowledge.
Environmental
- Geothermal power production uses a very low amount of land per MW of electricity produced.
- Although there are some greenhouse gas emissions from geothermal brine extraction, they are minimized with re-injection. The emissions are about 5% of those from a coal-burning power plant.
- A new geothermal development often displaces carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
