| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Alternative energy and shale gas encyclopedia |
| Editors | Jay H. Lehr, Jack Keeley, Thomas B Kingery |
| Place of Publication | Hoboken, USA |
| Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
| Pages | 301-309 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780470894415 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Abstract
Electricity produced from geothermal renewable energy sources harnesses the energy contained as heat in the Earth's interior. Geothermal power is generated by extracting hot fluids from the geothermal well and passing them through a turbine. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally accepted tool for evaluation of the impact for a product or service. Previous LCAs often ignore the high water requirements of thermal technologies such as coal when it must be considered. Geothermal power generation has been assessed against each sustainability indicator in detail, across the full life-cycle and subsequently compared to more traditional baseload power generation technologies: coal, natural gas, and nuclear. There are several likely adverse environmental impacts associated with geothermal power generation that must be considered. The life-cycle assessment data for geothermal power generation in comparison to nuclear, coal, and gas as a reference point to current market standards are outlined.