Caldera Geothermal’s Richard Zehner, interview continued

Caldera Geothermal, company website snapshot

Alexander Richter 7 Nis 2010

In continuation of a previously reported interview of Energy Boom with Richard Zehner of Caldera Geothermal, the second and third part of the interview provides for a very interesting read.

In an answer on how he would rank geothermal energy with solar wind and biofuels, Richard Zehner provides the following answer.

“Geothermal is the only baseline or ’24-7’ renewable, which makes it much more competitive on a megawatt basis than other renewable sources of energy. Geothermal also has a very small footprint compared with wind and solar.

However, to get geothermal wells on-line you need to 1) find them, and 2) drill them.

Discovering new geologic systems takes a certain amount of detective work, and the ability to read subtle geologic clues. Drilling these systems is risky and expensive, and is something you don’t have to do with solar, wind, or biofuels.”

… and on the future of geothermal, he says: ”

I see geothermal, along with hydro, becoming the primary baseload renewable energy sources for the western U.S.

Now that’s ‘hydrothermal’ geothermal such as we have here in the West, possibly augmented by Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in special situations. Outside high heat flow areas like the West, I don’t see EGS making many inroads without radical new drilling technology to reduce deep drilling costs.

Geothermal power will do better than non-baseload renewables if gas prices drop, and will thrive if natural gas prices increase. Still, we will continue to need renewable portfolio standards to maintain utility interest for all renewable energy sources.”

For the full interviews see link below.

Source:

Part II of the interview (EnergyBoom)

Part III of the interview (EnergyBoom)