Geothermal energy harnesses the earth’s internal heat, a renewable source continuously generated within the planet. This renewable energy resource could have a role in Colorado’s transition to 100% carbon-free energy if significant high-temperature resources are discovered.
Traditional geothermal reservoirs for production of electricity — naturally occurring areas of hydrothermal (hot-water) resources — are found deep underground. Geothermal energy taps into the earth’s internal heat through deep wells that produce steam to drive electricity-generating turbines. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nearly half of Colorado has geothermal resources of at least 200°F, but there has been little exploration of those resources.
Reliability and on-demand power
To help us with this article, we consulted a neighbor: Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s Senior Business Development and Key Accounts Advisor Mike Allen.
clock. “[If] you want reliability, you need people,” Allen said. Unlike natural gas, geothermal operates optimally at a steady pace rather than on demand. Although geothermal plants take more time to reach full capacity, they outpace coal and gas power plants. The only generation source that has a higher capacity factor is nuclear.
Private investors are seeking funding for a test drilling project in SDECA’s area near Mount Princeton Hot Springs to evaluate the economic feasibility and associated impacts and risks of developing a geothermal power plant.
Geothermal power plants provide consistent baseload power, crucial for a carbon-free energy grid. Baseload power is the minimum amount of power needed to meet the power demands of the households and businesses connected to the grid at one time. Similar to natural gas plants, geothermal plants can complement wind and solar, filling the gaps when these renewables aren’t producing energy.
The extra reliability that geothermal provides requires highly skilled plant operators to keep the plant running round the clock. “[If] you want reliability, you need people,” Allen said.
Unlike natural gas, geothermal operates optimally at a steady pace rather than on demand. Although geothermal plants take more time to reach full capacity, they outpace coal and gas power plants. The only generation source that has a higher capacity factor is nuclear.
Affordability
The costs of developing geothermal resources remain uncertain, especially in unexplored regions like ours. Exploration alone can cost $5 to $10 million, with a five- to seven-year timeline to reach operational status. This high upfront investment makes geothermal a risky endeavor, as exploratory drilling could reveal unviable resources. However, federal and state grants and tax incentives help reduce these risks, encouraging exploration.
Once operational, geothermal power’s wholesale cost is comparable to the traditional baseload energy sources of coal and natural gas. While geothermal energy is costlier than wind or solar, it offers added reliability as a baseload power source that wind and solar cannot provide.
Job creation and economic impact
Constructing a typical small-scale geothermal power plant would infuse a local economy with temporary jobs during the build phase, and about a dozen full-time permanent jobs. If a significant geothermal resource is found, secondary economic benefits may emerge, including thermal-network heating, agriculture, and recreational hot springs developments.
Allen noted it is not known if the development of geothermal electricity near a developed recreational hot spring could degrade the water temperature and quality of hot springs. That is one of the impacts that would need to be studied at the proposed test site which is within a few miles of Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.
Safety and the environment
If properly sited, designed, operated, and monitored, geothermal plants pose minimal environmental risks. However, federal, state, and local authorities have the power to reject development applications or shut down plants if environmental concerns can’t be addressed or regulations are violated.
“The footprint of fuel resources and the footprint and Key Accounts Advisor Mike Allen. $5 to $10 million, with a five- to seven-year of land are good metrics for measuring how clean the energy is,” Allen explained. “Every single power generation source has a footprint somewhere.”
Geothermal’s small footprint makes it one of the cleanest energy sources available. With fewer land requirements than wind and solar, minimal seismic risk, and minimal impacts on water, geothermal ranks close to nuclear in terms of efficient land use for high production of reliable energy and produces no carbon emissions.
Geothermal beyond electricity
In addition to electricity, shallow geothermal resources provide heating and cooling for buildings through ground-source heat pumps. The EPA calls geothermal heat pumps the most energy-efficient and environmentally clean systems for building temperature control. San Isabel Electric offers rebates for both ground-source and air-source heat pumps; details are available at siea.com/rebates.
Recent Comments