Page 27 - Geothermal Energy Renewable Energy and The Environment

Introduction 9

Problems
1.1 What is baseload energy?
1.2 Using the data in Figure 1.1, plot the doubling time for per capita power use at 25 year
intervals. The doubling time is the time required for a value to double. Discuss the
implications of this plot.
1.3 From an environmental perspective, how does geothermal energy use differ from that
of fossil-fueled systems? What are the benefits? What are the disadvantages?
1.4 If one were to use geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass technologies together, what
would be the considerations that would have to be addressed in order to satisfy the
daily and seasonal load?
1.5 Assume that protocols are put in place to reduce global CO 2 emissions to the levels in
1980. Using the data in Figures 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5, suggest, quantitatively, how this might
be achieved? What assumptions must you make to do these calculations?

reFerences
Boden, T. A., G. Marland, and R. J. Andres. 2009. Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions.
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of
Energy, Oak Ridge, TN, doi 10.3334/CDIAC/00001.
Grübler, A. 1998. Technology and Global Change. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Hafele, W., and W. Sassin. 1977. “The Global Energy System.” Annual Reviews of Energy 2:1–30.
Slack, K. 2009. Geothermal resources and climate emissions. Geothermal Energy Association, Washington,
DC. Draft Report for Public Review.
Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K. B. Averyt, M. Tignor, and H. L. Miller., eds.
2007. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. New York and Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge University Press.
Tester, J. W., B. J. Anderson, A. S. Batchelor, D. D. Blackwell, R. DiPippio, E. M. Drake, J. Garnish, et al. 2006.
The Future of Geothermal Energy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
United Nations. 2004. World Population to 2300. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
Population Division. Report ST/ESA/SER.A/236.
United States Energy Information Administration. 2008. Annual Energy Outlook 2008. U. S. Department of
Energy Report DOE/EIA-0383 (2008).

FUrTher InFormaTIon
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA; http://www.geo-energy.org/)
The GEA is a trade organization dedicated to providing timely and accurate information
about many aspects of geothermal energy. They are an excellent data and information
resource. They are particularly useful for obtaining timely information regarding topics
that have been in the media recently.
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC; http://www.geothermal.org/)
The GRC is a membership organization dedicated to supporting geothermal energy activi-
ties of all kinds. It has the world’s most complete library on geothermal topics and is an
excellent resource for data, links to information sources and industry members.
The International Geothermal Association (IGA; http://www.geothermal-energy.org/index.php)
The IGA performs a function complementary to that of the GRC, but with a broader inter-
national focus. It is particularly useful for information concerning geothermal activities
outside the United States.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
The U.S. EPA maintains a Web site at which it is possible to obtain information regarding
a broad range of energy-related topics and their environmental attributes. The Web site for
“Clean Energy” (http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-and-you/affect/air-emissions.html) is
a good portal to begin exploration of that topic.