Dave, geothermal is not tied to fracking. It is like a heat pump that uses heat from the earth. I think perhaps we need to stop thinking of energy primarily in terms of large scale, and think more about a range of small-scale environmentally responsible sources that supplement each other.
But, as I tried to point out earlier, limited to places that are "hot spots" unless you plan to dig very very deep wells. As a professional hydrogeologist along the arc of my career, I can assure you that that presents some significant challenges. Which is one of the things that led me to the next part of my career. Now I think I'd like to return to the main focus of this forum, rather than get sidetracked into something that definitely does need discussion, but probably not here.
I need some clarification, please. I have a home geothermal system, 7 wells were dug. Why is fracking necessary large scale? To power electrical plants? Thanks.
There’s a difference between the twenty foot wells dug for residential purposes and the deep well required to provide steam to power plants. Geothermal for heating a house is different than the requirements to spin a turbine for electricity
Hmm... I still don't understand where fracking is an issue. Deeper reach for aquifers may have issues especially with cost, but I'm not understanding where fracking enters the equation. Thanks.
The Geo Thermal systems for steam generation to power turbines go miles deep into rock. Fracking is used to crack the rock to provide the surface area into which fluid is pumped to down into the fractured rock and then returned back to the surface under pressure to drive the turbines. I’ll look for a link
Here’s one, but in general,deep well geothermal needs to crack rock at the bottom of wells to create the surface area of the exposed cracked rock to heat the fluids that run through the heat exchanger to create steam
Geo thermal at scale is expensive but possible. We’d all have to accept the fracking that comes with it though
Dave, geothermal is not tied to fracking. It is like a heat pump that uses heat from the earth. I think perhaps we need to stop thinking of energy primarily in terms of large scale, and think more about a range of small-scale environmentally responsible sources that supplement each other.
There is geo thermal for household heat. Simple but long term payback
Then there is commercial geothermal that creates steam to run turbines to generate electricity. Two different animals
But, as I tried to point out earlier, limited to places that are "hot spots" unless you plan to dig very very deep wells. As a professional hydrogeologist along the arc of my career, I can assure you that that presents some significant challenges. Which is one of the things that led me to the next part of my career. Now I think I'd like to return to the main focus of this forum, rather than get sidetracked into something that definitely does need discussion, but probably not here.
Yes, also less susceptible to big grid cyber attacks!
I'm wondering if the power to run the electrical components- fan etc. is to what he refers.
I need some clarification, please. I have a home geothermal system, 7 wells were dug. Why is fracking necessary large scale? To power electrical plants? Thanks.
There’s a difference between the twenty foot wells dug for residential purposes and the deep well required to provide steam to power plants. Geothermal for heating a house is different than the requirements to spin a turbine for electricity
Hmm... I still don't understand where fracking is an issue. Deeper reach for aquifers may have issues especially with cost, but I'm not understanding where fracking enters the equation. Thanks.
The Geo Thermal systems for steam generation to power turbines go miles deep into rock. Fracking is used to crack the rock to provide the surface area into which fluid is pumped to down into the fractured rock and then returned back to the surface under pressure to drive the turbines. I’ll look for a link
Thanks. I haven't found any reference to fracking.
This is strange. Substack won’t let me paste the links. Google “geothermal energy fracking” . Find the Scientific American article
Here’s one, but in general,deep well geothermal needs to crack rock at the bottom of wells to create the surface area of the exposed cracked rock to heat the fluids that run through the heat exchanger to create steam
Opps, link wont post. I’ll try again