Comments on: Why Geothermal Power Deserves More Hype http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/why-geothermal-power-deserves-more-hype/ A blog about residential solar power, brought to you by CalFinder. Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:36:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Idaho Taps into Rich Geothermal Energy Potential | Future of solar energy info http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/why-geothermal-power-deserves-more-hype/comment-page-1/#comment-132470 Idaho Taps into Rich Geothermal Energy Potential | Future of solar energy info Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:54:13 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-132470 [...] geothermal energy currently contributes less than 1 percent of domestic energy nationwide, it has the capacity for [...] [...] geothermal energy currently contributes less than 1 percent of domestic energy nationwide, it has the capacity for [...]

]]> By: toob http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/why-geothermal-power-deserves-more-hype/comment-page-1/#comment-99325 toob Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:18:50 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-99325 I wish there was more emphasis on residential geothermal, which use "heat pumps". While it doesn't produce electricity, it provides heating in cold climates, and cooling in warm climates. This causes a huge reduction in the amount of electricity/natural gas/wood/coal needed to warm or cool a home. With the savings found there, a homeowner can have a lower energy bills. With those savings and the lower energy requirement, they can get away with a smaller solar/wind installation to become independent! Of course, it all starts with great insulation, and sealing up leaks, which is definitely not flashy. But please try to get the word out on residential geothermal!! I wish there was more emphasis on residential geothermal, which use “heat pumps”. While it doesn’t produce electricity, it provides heating in cold climates, and cooling in warm climates. This causes a huge reduction in the amount of electricity/natural gas/wood/coal needed to warm or cool a home. With the savings found there, a homeowner can have a lower energy bills. With those savings and the lower energy requirement, they can get away with a smaller solar/wind installation to become independent!

Of course, it all starts with great insulation, and sealing up leaks, which is definitely not flashy. But please try to get the word out on residential geothermal!!

]]> By: Ten-Dimensional Technologies http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/why-geothermal-power-deserves-more-hype/comment-page-1/#comment-54761 Ten-Dimensional Technologies Wed, 22 Sep 2010 03:38:48 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-54761 Nail on the head. I am waiting for the floodgates to open (or rather hell-gates...) and for people to finally realize the untapped potential that geothermal energy has to offer. I expect, in the coming years, an explosion of public awareness and subsequent investment into this technology. And companies such as CalFinder and others will only shake their heads when asked "Why haven't we done this sooner?" Nail on the head. I am waiting for the floodgates to open (or rather hell-gates…) and for people to finally realize the untapped potential that geothermal energy has to offer. I expect, in the coming years, an explosion of public awareness and subsequent investment into this technology. And companies such as CalFinder and others will only shake their heads when asked “Why haven’t we done this sooner?”

]]> By: Dan http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/why-geothermal-power-deserves-more-hype/comment-page-1/#comment-31088 Dan Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:43:32 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-31088 Hi Brian...According to the Geothermal Energy Association the cost/MWh for geothermal plants depends on a few variables, including size of the plant. An example: a 50MW Binary Geothermal plant produces electricity at $92 per megawatt-hour. A Flash geothermal plant (see http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/how-does-geothermal-energy-work/ ) produces at $88/MWh. Both - again according to the GEA - are cheaper than every other renewable resource at similar power plant size, including concentrating solar PV. Initial costs are considerably higher for Geothermal versus natural gas, but operating/fuel costs from there on out are much cheaper so, like other renewable resources, the economics even out over time. Cheers and thanks for reading! Hi Brian…According to the Geothermal Energy Association the cost/MWh for geothermal plants depends on a few variables, including size of the plant. An example: a 50MW Binary Geothermal plant produces electricity at $92 per megawatt-hour. A Flash geothermal plant (see http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/how-does-geothermal-energy-work/ ) produces at $88/MWh. Both – again according to the GEA – are cheaper than every other renewable resource at similar power plant size, including concentrating solar PV. Initial costs are considerably higher for Geothermal versus natural gas, but operating/fuel costs from there on out are much cheaper so, like other renewable resources, the economics even out over time.

Cheers and thanks for reading!

]]> By: Brian http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/geothermal/why-geothermal-power-deserves-more-hype/comment-page-1/#comment-31055 Brian Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:44:37 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/?p=3092#comment-31055 Very interesting piece. Do you have any information on the cost/MWhour ratio that Geothermal energy brings to the table? Very interesting piece. Do you have any information on the cost/MWhour ratio that Geothermal energy brings to the table?

]]>