Summary
The existing interest in the prospect of geothermal power has been stimulated by the recent revision in the relative costs of the various sources of energy that can be efficiently converted to electrical energy for easy distribution. One may erroneously conclude that the energy sources that are alternates to fossil fuels have simply been ignored. In fact, there are very strong reasons, based on physical or engineering considerations, why solar, wind, and tidal power have not been productively developed throughout the world. There are also valid physical and geological reasons why geothermal reserves have never attracted much investment relative to alternative energy sources. This article sets forth some of those reasons.
A geothermal “target” is defined in terms of present germane technology and economic conditions. Geothermal targets are observed to be rare at the present geological time; this can be explained by a model of a geothermal reservoir due to a short-lived intrusion. It dissipates the heat by conduction and convection within a few tens of thousands of years. Geothermal targets are rare in space because they are only likely to occur where curreent tectonic activity is high. Geothermal development is rare in practice because the technology is not widespread for economically handling the corrosive brines or high water-content of natural steams. Environmental pollution from geothermal developments is often far worse than anticipated. Any geothermal reservoir is a depletable resource, assuming current technology.
Investment in the development of drilling holes an order of magnitude deeper than at present and in the use of hot rock or magma is most appropriate for the long-term development of geothermal power. In the immediate future, petroleum must be used while nuclear power plants are constructed. There will not be any physical shortage of petroleum within a hundred years; but much of it happens to be in the other guy's backyard.
A geothermal summary of high-temperature geothermal reserves, exclusive of the USA, is given.
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Adams, W.M. The prospects of finding exploitable geothermal reservoirs. GeoJournal 1, 73–80 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195541
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195541