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Hot water production improves the energy return on investment of geothermal power plants

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  • Atlason, R.S.
  • Unnthorsson, R.

Abstract

Our aim was to examine the energy efficiency at Nesjavellir geothermal power plant by calculating its EROI (energy return on investment). For calculations, real data was acquired from stakeholders on materials used in the construction, maintenance and operation of the plant. A previously proposed standard for EROI calculations is tested in this study. Also calculated is the EPT (energy payback time). The paper presents a new EROI metric which is given the name EROI ideal which looks at the maximum theoretical EROI, which shows the potential room for improvement in efficiency. Findings show that the infrastructure to deliver energy to Reykjavik is the largest contributor when looking at the embodied energy of used material. The power plant itself uses 12 MW of the produced 120 MW of electricity and 300 MW of hot water, which makes the plant itself the single largest energy consumer. EROI3,i was found to be 32.4 over a 40-year lifetime, EROIstnd 33 and EROIide 80.9. However, excluding hot water, the EROI dropped to 9.5. This indicates that the efficiency has not improved in electricity production using geothermal technology since the 1970's. Hot water production for domestic heating was therefore found to increase the EROI significantly.

Suggested Citation

  • Atlason, R.S. & Unnthorsson, R., 2013. "Hot water production improves the energy return on investment of geothermal power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 273-280.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:51:y:2013:i:c:p:273-280
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.01.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhaoyang Kong & Xiucheng Dong & Bo Xu & Rui Li & Qiang Yin & Cuifang Song, 2015. "EROI Analysis for Direct Coal Liquefaction without and with CCS: The Case of the Shenhua DCL Project in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Atlason, Reynir Smari, 2018. "EROI and the Icelandic society," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 52-57.
    3. Lilli Maar & Stefan Seifermann, 2023. "Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Deep Geothermal Heat Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Reynir Smari Atlason & Ragnar Ingi Danner & Runar Unnthorsson & Gudmundur Valur Oddsson & Fernando Sustaeta & Ragnheidur Thorarinsdottir, 2017. "Energy Return on Investment for Aquaponics: Case Studies from Iceland and Spain," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-12, March.
    5. María Dolores Mainar-Toledo & Maryori Díaz-Ramírez & Snorri J. Egilsson & Claudio Zuffi & Giampaolo Manfrida & Héctor Leiva, 2023. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant for Heat and Electricity Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Wiraditma Prananta & Ida Kubiszewski, 2021. "Assessment of Indonesia’s Future Renewable Energy Plan: A Meta-Analysis of Biofuel Energy Return on Investment (EROI)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Daniilidis, Alexandros & Herber, Rien, 2017. "Salt intrusions providing a new geothermal exploration target for higher energy recovery at shallower depths," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 658-670.
    8. Atlason, Reynir & Unnthorsson, Runar, 2014. "Ideal EROI (energy return on investment) deepens the understanding of energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 241-245.
    9. Salehi, Mohammad & Khajehpour, Hossein & Saboohi, Yadollah, 2020. "Extended Energy Return on Investment of multiproduct energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    10. Atlason, R.S. & Unnthorsson, R., 2014. "Energy return on investment of hydroelectric power generation calculated using a standardised methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 364-370.
    11. Walmsley, Timothy G. & Walmsley, Michael R.W. & Varbanov, Petar S. & Klemeš, Jiří J., 2018. "Energy Ratio analysis and accounting for renewable and non-renewable electricity generation: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 328-345.

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    Keywords

    EROI; Geothermal; Power plant;
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