Geothermal
In the dynamic world of renewable energy technology and development, geothermal resources count as the most reliable. Italy recently celebrated its 100th anniversary of using geothermal energy to produce electrical power.
Geothermally produced electrical power is considered “base load” by the utility industry meaning that its purchase does not require backup with conventional power as is the case with solar or wind power, both of which are double or triple the cost of geothermal power.
Unlike all other forms of renewable energy, the production of electricity from’ geothermal sources creates residual heat which can be used in a variety of “direct use” applications for heating and cooling buildings, agriculture, aquaculture and so forth.
Given that the geothermal resource lies below earth’s surface, only a small amount of land is required for purposes of harnessing geothermal energy. Producing enough electricity for 30,000 homes would only require about 20 acres for a geothermal power plant whereas over 50 times the amount of surface land could be required to produce an equivalent amount of wind or solar electricity.
Geothermal power plants are visually and audibly in obtrusive, have no emissions and few moving parts facilitating maintenance and reliability.
Production of reliable, base load renewable electricity for:
- sale to grid transmission system
- use on property for selected applications such as Data Centers
Residual direct use geothermal heat for many uses on property including:
- heating and cooling buildings
- algae/biofuels production
- controlled environments for aqua and agricultural projects
Algal Biofuels
Algae is the world’s fastest growing plant, capable of producing 30 times more energy per acre than other biofuel source options. This is due to the fact that, while algae uses sunlight to produce oil like many other plants, they do so far more efficiently. Accordingly, it is widely believed that algae appears to be the only source for renewable biofuels capable of meeting the global demand for transportation fuel. Indeed, it is estimated that .02% of the land in the U.S. is sufficient to produce enough algae to meet the Country’s entire transportation fuel requirements. Various algae strains are being developed to produce specific fuel types such as jet fuel, diesel and ethanol.
While the concept of using algae as a source for fuel is not new, it is now being taken seriously given the escalating price of petroleum and the concern over global warming associated with burning fossil fuels.
GEOVADA is perhaps the single, most ideal location in the U.S. for large scale algae production and processing into biofuels and other valuable byproducts. Consider for example:
- 5,000 acres designated for growing algae for production of biodiesel
- Geothermal heat and coal power plant CO2 available to enhance algal growth
- Bio mass including algal waste to be processed for ethanol
- Freeway and rail access for export of biofuels
- The land is flat and owned by GEOVADA (no multiple owners or Federal leases)
- There is immediate access to rail and freeway for exporting biofuel production
- for supplying much of the energy needs of the biofuels processing plant
- for drying algae byproducts such as animal and fish feeds and fertilizer
- a nearby coal fired power plant
- GEOVADA’s PAG power plant (see Plasma Gasification)
Recovering Energy from Waste Facility
GEOVADA’s portfolio of renewable and alternative energy programs includes plans for a state-of-the-art Recovering Energy from Waste (RENEW) facility. The preferred technology for this facility is Plasma Assisted Gasification or PAG, a process capable of profitably converting waste materials that are currently being disposed of in ways detrimental to human health and the environment into a variety of renewable and saleable products. Utilizing PAG technology in a RENEW facility is preferred for GEOVADA because it has less environmental impacts than other conversion technologies, plus no residuals require landfill disposal.
Developed and operating in Europe and Asia, PAG energy plants gasify waste materials at high temperatures (>2000 degrees C). Organic components in the waste materials are completely converted to a mixture of gases collectively called synthesis gas (syngas). Following cleanup steps, this syngas, which is comprised of primarily hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), can be either reformulated into saleable products such as transportation fuels (e.g., ethanol) or used as fuel for electricity generation. The inorganic fraction, which exits the gasifier in a liquified molten state, can also be formulated into saleable products such as insulation or various building and construction materials. Metals can also be recovered from the molten material. Any CO2 from the facility can also be captured and compressed for producing dry ice or for delivery to algae beds as a growth stimulant in GEOVADA’s algae-based biofuels program.
A PAG RENEW facility can accept any waste products noteably glass, plastics, paper, wood, tires, other biomass or e-waste including circuit boards, disc drives, cellular phones, printer cartridges and other tech hardware components. Numerous sources including CBS’ 60 Minutes have extensively documented the environmental and health hazards of disposing of e-waste by conventional methods such as in landfills or shipment to developing countries where labor rates are conducive to manual dismantling.
GEOVADA provides an ideal location for a PAG RENEW facility. Consider the following:
- Immediate access to both rail and freeway for purposes of both importing waste materials and exporting manufactured byproducts such as ethanol, metals, or construction products
- Access to transmission grid for exporting electricity generated at the facility
- Access to local markets provided by GEOVADA businesses for sale of byproducts (transportation fuels, construction materials)
- Excess heat generated by a PAG RENEW facility can supplement geothermal heat in GEOVADA’s district heating services to customers within the project
- A PAG RENEW facility also provides an effective and clean disposal option for waste products such as fly ash generated by coal-fired power plants
Solar Energy
The amount of renewable electricity produced from solar power will increase significantly in the near future prompted by Federal and state tax incentives, state imposed requirements that utilities purchase renewable power and advances in technology. U.S. utilities signed power purchase contracts for 2,340 MW of new solar capacity in 2006 and 2007 with project completion dates through 2014. It is projected that that the solar power market in the West could reach 10,000 MW with a long term potential of 200,000 MW.
Popular solar technologies include photovoltaic, concentrated thermal, solar trough and solar towers with electrical production potential of up to 500 MW per project. Parabolic trough technology is best known having been in operation in the U.S. since the 1980s. Solar tower technology, a relative newcomer, has potential to lower solar electrical production cost and provide more efficient storage.
Technology aside, there is aggressive competition for the relatively few quality solar sites that exist in the West. Among the desirable, common attributes of a solar site are
• privately owned land in the 500 – 2,000+ acre range under single ownership
• level topography with a slope of 3 degrees or less
• nearby transmission grid with capacity for additional electrical power
• reasonable proximity to highway or freeway
• potential integration with geothermal power development
All the above features exist at GEOVADA. Additionally, the considerable expense involved in accessing the transmission grid may be cost shared with other renewable power generated at GEOVADA such as that from geothermal resources and plasma gasification. There will also be numerous opportunities for the sale of solar generated power directly to businesses located within the GEOVADA project.