IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v56y2016icp133-144.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS): A review

Author

Listed:
  • Olasolo, P.
  • Juárez, M.C.
  • Morales, M.P.
  • D´Amico, Sebastiano
  • Liarte, I.A.

Abstract

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that can be found in abundance on our planet. Only a small fraction of it is currently converted to electrical power, though in recent years installed geothermal capacity has increased considerably all over the world. This review focuses on Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), which represent a path for turning the enormous resources provided by geothermal energy into electricity for human consumption efficiently and on a large scale. The paper presents a general overview of this ever-expanding technology from its origins to the current state of the art. The Geodynamics plant in Habanero (Australia), which started up on 2 May 2013, is the first privately-run commercial EGS plant to produce electricity on a large scale. Thanks to the technological development of EGS in recent years, the future looks bright for such plants in the decades to come.

Suggested Citation

  • Olasolo, P. & Juárez, M.C. & Morales, M.P. & D´Amico, Sebastiano & Liarte, I.A., 2016. "Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 133-144.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:56:y:2016:i:c:p:133-144
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.11.031
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032115012964
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2015.11.031?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giambastiani, B.M.S. & Tinti, F. & Mendrinos, D. & Mastrocicco, M., 2014. "Energy performance strategies for the large scale introduction of geothermal energy in residential and industrial buildings: The GEO.POWER project," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 315-322.
    2. Gerber, Léda & Maréchal, François, 2012. "Environomic optimal configurations of geothermal energy conversion systems: Application to the future construction of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in Switzerland," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 908-923.
    3. Chandrasiri Ekneligoda, Thushan & Min, Ki-Bok, 2014. "Determination of optimum parameters of doublet system in a horizontally fractured geothermal reservoir," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 152-160.
    4. Chamorro, César R. & García-Cuesta, José L. & Mondéjar, María E. & Pérez-Madrazo, Alfonso, 2014. "Enhanced geothermal systems in Europe: An estimation and comparison of the technical and sustainable potentials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 250-263.
    5. Mengying Li & Noam Lior, 2014. "Comparative Analysis of Power Plant Options for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Luo, Feng & Xu, Rui-Na & Jiang, Pei-Xue, 2014. "Numerical investigation of fluid flow and heat transfer in a doublet enhanced geothermal system with CO2 as the working fluid (CO2–EGS)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 307-322.
    7. Biagi, James & Agarwal, Ramesh & Zhang, Zheming, 2015. "Simulation and optimization of enhanced geothermal systems using CO2 as a working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 627-637.
    8. Xie, Linmao & Min, Ki-Bok & Song, Yoonho, 2015. "Observations of hydraulic stimulations in seven enhanced geothermal system projects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 56-65.
    9. Reber, Timothy J. & Beckers, Koenraad F. & Tester, Jefferson W., 2014. "The transformative potential of geothermal heating in the U.S. energy market: A regional study of New York and Pennsylvania," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 30-44.
    10. Chen, Jiliang & Jiang, Fangming, 2015. "Designing multi-well layout for enhanced geothermal system to better exploit hot dry rock geothermal energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 37-48.
    11. Hofmann, Hannes & Babadagli, Tayfun & Zimmermann, Günter, 2014. "Hot water generation for oil sands processing from enhanced geothermal systems: Process simulation for different hydraulic fracturing scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 524-547.
    12. John W. Lund, 2010. "Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 3(8), pages 1-29, August.
    13. Ram Mohan, Arun & Turaga, Uday & Shembekar, Vishakha & Elsworth, Derek & Pisupati, Sarma V., 2013. "Utilization of carbon dioxide from coal-based power plants as a heat transfer fluid for electricity generation in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 505-512.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Olasolo, P. & Juárez, M.C. & Morales, M.P. & Olasolo, A. & Agius, M.R., 2018. "Analysis of working fluids applicable in Enhanced Geothermal Systems: Nitrous oxide as an alternative working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 150-161.
    2. Shi, Yu & Song, Xianzhi & Shen, Zhonghou & Wang, Gaosheng & Li, Xiaojiang & Zheng, Rui & Geng, Lidong & Li, Jiacheng & Zhang, Shikun, 2018. "Numerical investigation on heat extraction performance of a CO2 enhanced geothermal system with multilateral wells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 38-51.
    3. Cheng, Wen-Long & Wang, Chang-Long & Nian, Yong-Le & Han, Bing-Bing & Liu, Jian, 2016. "Analysis of influencing factors of heat extraction from enhanced geothermal systems considering water losses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 274-288.
    4. Jiang, Peixue & Li, Xiaolu & Xu, Ruina & Zhang, Fuzhen, 2016. "Heat extraction of novel underground well pattern systems for geothermal energy exploitation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 83-94.
    5. Wei, Xin & Feng, Zi-jun & Zhao, Yang-sheng, 2019. "Numerical simulation of thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling effect in mining fault-mode hot dry rock geothermal energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 120-135.
    6. Zhang, Jie & Xie, Jingxuan, 2020. "Effect of reservoir’s permeability and porosity on the performance of cellular development model for enhanced geothermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 824-838.
    7. Wang, Chang-Long & Cheng, Wen-Long & Nian, Yong-Le & Yang, Lei & Han, Bing-Bing & Liu, Ming-Hou, 2018. "Simulation of heat extraction from CO2-based enhanced geothermal systems considering CO2 sequestration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 157-167.
    8. Sun, Fengrui & Yao, Yuedong & Li, Guozhen & Li, Xiangfang, 2018. "Geothermal energy extraction in CO2 rich basin using abandoned horizontal wells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 760-773.
    9. Wang, Yuqing & Liu, Yingxin & Dou, Jinyue & Li, Mingzhu & Zeng, Ming, 2020. "Geothermal energy in China: Status, challenges, and policy recommendations," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. Zhu, Jialing & Hu, Kaiyong & Lu, Xinli & Huang, Xiaoxue & Liu, Ketao & Wu, Xiujie, 2015. "A review of geothermal energy resources, development, and applications in China: Current status and prospects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 466-483.
    11. Pan, Shu-Yuan & Gao, Mengyao & Shah, Kinjal J. & Zheng, Jianming & Pei, Si-Lu & Chiang, Pen-Chi, 2019. "Establishment of enhanced geothermal energy utilization plans: Barriers and strategies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 19-32.
    12. Somogyi, Viola & Sebestyén, Viktor & Nagy, Georgina, 2017. "Scientific achievements and regulation of shallow geothermal systems in six European countries – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 934-952.
    13. Chen, Yun & Ma, Guowei & Wang, Huidong & Li, Tuo & Wang, Yang & Sun, Zizheng, 2020. "Optimizing heat mining strategies in a fractured geothermal reservoir considering fracture deformation effects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 326-337.
    14. Laveet Kumar & Md. Shouquat Hossain & Mamdouh El Haj Assad & Mansoor Urf Manoo, 2022. "Technological Advancements and Challenges of Geothermal Energy Systems: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-18, November.
    15. Ding, Junfeng & Wang, Shimin, 2018. "2D modeling of well array operating enhanced geothermal system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 918-932.
    16. Song, Xianzhi & Shi, Yu & Li, Gensheng & Yang, Ruiyue & Wang, Gaosheng & Zheng, Rui & Li, Jiacheng & Lyu, Zehao, 2018. "Numerical simulation of heat extraction performance in enhanced geothermal system with multilateral wells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 325-337.
    17. Knoblauch, Theresa A.K. & Trutnevyte, Evelina, 2018. "Siting enhanced geothermal systems (EGS): Heat benefits versus induced seismicity risks from an investor and societal perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1311-1325.
    18. Schifflechner, Christopher & Dawo, Fabian & Eyerer, Sebastian & Wieland, Christoph & Spliethoff, Hartmut, 2020. "Thermodynamic comparison of direct supercritical CO2 and indirect brine-ORC concepts for geothermal combined heat and power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1292-1302.
    19. Ma, Yuanyuan & Li, Shibin & Zhang, Ligang & Liu, Songze & Liu, Zhaoyi & Li, Hao & Shi, Erxiu & Zhang, Haijun, 2020. "Numerical simulation study on the heat extraction performance of multi-well injection enhanced geothermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 782-795.
    20. Du, Xin & Jiang, Yuxi & Yang, Feng & Lu, Detang, 2024. "Thermo-hydro-mechanical fully coupled model for enhanced geothermal system and numerical solution method based on finite volume method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:56:y:2016:i:c:p:133-144. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.