2. CONTENT
• Geothermal energy ‘Scientific Background’
History
Resources
Geothermal Systems and Applications
Advantages and Disadvantages
• Geothermal energy in Egypt
Introduction
Potential
Current situation
Future Investments
• Conclusion
• References
4. DEFINITIONS
• Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated
and stored in the Earth.
• Heat due to radioactive decay transfers from the
inner core of the Earth to its crust by
conduction.
• The temperature at the core may reach over
4000 ⁰C [1].
• Rock and water is heated in the crust, sometimes
up to 370 °C [2].
• Due to these high temperature, we can use it as a
source of power in a variety of applications.
• Note: Inner core is solid due to extremely high pressure
and is suggested to be a solid crystal of iron [3].
5. TEMPERATURE VARIATION THROUGH EARTH'S INTERIOR
Source: https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/9-2-the-temperature-of-earths-interior/
6. HISTORY OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
• The oldest known spa is a stone pool on China's Lisan
mountain built in the Qin Dynasty in the 3rd century
BC.
• The world's oldest geothermal district heating system
in Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the
14th century [4].
• In 1892, America's first district heating system in Boise,
Idaho was powered directly by geothermal energy.
• In 1907, the first known building in the world to utilize
geothermal energy as its primary heat source was
the Hot Lake Hotel in Union County, Oregon [5].
• In 1904, Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first
geothermal power generator. It successfully lit four light
bulbs [6].
• New Zealand built a plant in 1958. In 2012, it produced
some 594 megawatts [7].
Source: https://ysfine.com/world/china11.html
7. GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Geothermal heat can be used to heat fluid when circulating through :-
I. Magma conduits.
II. Hot springs.
III. Hydrothermal circulation.
A geothermal heat pump can extract enough heat from shallow ground anywhere in the world to provide
home heating.
Because the thermal efficiency and profitability of electricity generation is particularly sensitive to
temperature, industrial applications need the higher temperatures of deep resources.
The next best option is to drill a well into a hot aquifer. If no adequate aquifer is available, an artificial one
may be built by injecting water to hydraulically fracture the bedrock. This approach is called hot dry rock
geothermal energy.
Upper estimates of geothermal resources assume enhanced geothermal wells as deep as 10 kilometers (6 mi),
whereas existing geothermal wells are rarely more than 3 kilometers (2 mi) deep [8].
8. Systems And Applications
Electricity Applications
Liquid-dominated plants (Flash Plants)
• Liquid-dominated reservoirs (LDRs) were
more common with temperatures greater than
200 °C.
• Pumps are generally not required, powered
instead when the water turns to steam.
• Most wells generate 2-10 MWe.
• Steam is separated from liquid via cyclone
separators, while the liquid is returned to the
reservoir for reheating/reuse.
• Lower temperature LDRs (120–200 °C)
require pumping.
Source: http://dchandra.geosyndicate.com/geoenergy.html
9. SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS (CONT’D)
Enhanced Geothermal Systems
• Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) actively inject water into
wells to be heated and pumped back out.
• The idea is to drill a well into a hot aquifer. If no adequate
aquifer is available, an artificial one may be built by injecting
water to hydraulically fracture the bedrock.
• The water is injected under high pressure to expand existing
rock fissures to enable the water to freely flow in and out.
• The technique was adapted from oil and gas extraction
techniques [10].
• Upper estimates of geothermal resources assume enhanced
geothermal wells as deep as 10 kilometers (6 mi), whereas
existing geothermal wells are rarely more than 3 kilometers
(2 mi) deep [8].
Source: http://www.nepii.tw/language/en/focus-
centers/geothermal-and-gas-hydrate-focus-center/
10. SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS (CONT’D)
Thermal Applications
• Sources with temperatures of 30–150 °C are used without
conversion to electricity as district
heating, greenhouses, fisheries, mineral recovery, industrial
process heating and bathing .
• Heating is cost-effective at many more sites than electricity
generation.
• At natural hot springs or geysers, water can be piped directly
into radiators.
• In hot, dry ground, earth tubes or downhole heat
exchangers can collect the heat.
• Iceland is the world leader in direct applications. Some 92.5% of
its homes are heated with geothermal energy, saving Iceland
over $100 million annually in avoided oil imports [9]. Source: https://nzgeothermal.org.nz/geothermal-heat-pump-
schematic/
11. Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of Geothermal Energy
• Geothermal power is considered to be renewable because any projected heat extraction is small
compared to the Earth's heat content. Human extraction taps a minute fraction of the natural
outflow, often without accelerating it.
• Geothermal power is also considered to be sustainable thanks to its power to sustain the Earth's
intricate ecosystems.
• due to its low emissions (CO2,CO,SO’s,etc.) geothermal energy is considered to have excellent
potential for mitigation of global warming compared to other sources.
• A very simple technology and it’s available for public uses.
• Geothermal has minimal land and freshwater requirements. Geothermal plants use 3.5 square kilometers
(1.4 sq. mi) per gigawatt of electrical production (not capacity) versus 32 square kilometers (12 sq. mi)
and 12 square kilometers (4.6 sq. mi) for coal facilities and wind farms respectively [12]. They use 20
liters (5.3 US gal) of freshwater per Mwah versus over 1,000 liters (260 US gal) per Mwah for nuclear,
coal, or oil [12].
• The geothermal power plants operate at [90 % efficiency all the 365 days in a year. And the life of
geothermal power plant is greater than 30 years [13].
12. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES (CONT’D)
Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
• Fluids drawn from the deep earth carry a mixture of gases,
notably carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen
sulfide (H2S), methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3).
• These pollutants contribute to global warming, acid rain, and
noxious smells if released.
• Hot water from geothermal sources may hold in solution
trace amounts of toxic elements such
as mercury, arsenic, boron, and antimony.
• These chemicals precipitate as the water cools, and can cause
environmental damage if released [11].
• Direct geothermal heating systems contain pumps and
compressors, which may consume energy from a polluting
source.
• Plant construction can adversely affect land stability which
may cause subsidence. Enhanced geothermal systems may
cause earthquakes as a part of hydraulic fracturing.
Subsidence has occurred In Staufen im Breisgau, Germany.
Source: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/staufen-germany
14. INTRODUCTION
• Egypt’s demand for electricity is growing rapidly and the need to develop alternative power resources is
becoming ever more urgent (Perston and Croker, 2013).
• It is estimated that the demand is increasing at a rate of 1,500 to 2,000 MWe a year, as a result of rapid
urbanization and economic growth (Perston and Croker, 2013).
• Egypt has been suffering severe power shortages and rolling blackouts over the past years, necessitating the
requirement to look to alternative energy options to help meet increasing demand (Perston and Croker, 2013).
Source: https://yearbook.enerdata.net/electricity/
15. INTRODUCTION (CONT’D)
Renewable Energy Production
1. Hydro
• Hydro-electricity has played a role in electricity generation in Egypt for decades. The hydropower
energy constitutes approximately 11.2% of Egypt’s power and Aswan Dam provides the majority
(EERA, 2009).
2. Solar
• In 2010, Egypt’s only major solar power project was commissioned in Kuraymat. The capacity of the
plant is a 140 MWe solar thermal combined cycle power plant of which 20 MWe is from solar energy
(Lashin, 2015).
3. Wind
• According to the Egypt Wind Energy Association 700 square kilometres have been set aside for new
wind projects in the Gebel elZayt area which has wind speeds of 11 m/s (Lashin, 2015).
16. INTRODUCTION (CONT’D)
Share of renewables in electricity production
Source: https://yearbook.enerdata.net/renewables/renewable-in-electricity-production-share.html
17. GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL
The geothermal resources of Egypt can be classified as three main types;
1. Low enthalpy geothermal resources: Located mainly in the Western Desert of Egypt
(Kharga and Baharyia oases), around the Gulf of Suez (e.g. Ayun Musa, Ain El
Sukhna and Helwian sulfur springs) and in some locations in Sinai (Lashin, 2015).
2. Medium enthalpy geothermal resources: Represented by some hot springs and
geothermal targets around Gulf of Suez (e.g. Hammam Faraun) (Lashin, 2015).
3. High enthalpy geothermal resources: Geothermal anomalies encountered in the rift of
depo-centres areas of the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea (Lashin, 2015).
18. GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (CONT’D)
Low enthalpy geothermal resources:
• Hot springs in oases located in the western desert such as Kharga, Baharyia, Farafrah,
and Dakhla oases (Lashin, 2015).
• Hot springs around the Gulf of Suez such as Ayun Musa, Ain El Sukhna and Helwian
sulfur springs and Ain Alsokhnah (Lashin, 2015).
• Some locations in Sinai (Lashin, 2015).
• Surface temperature is in range from 30°C to 45°C.
19. GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (CONT’D)
Medium enthalpy geothermal resources:
• Hot springs and geothermal targets around Gulf of Suez (Lashin, 2015).
• Most important one is Hammam Faraun which can produce water of temperature up
to 76°C at the surface (Lashin, 2015).
• In Hammam Faraun-Sudr area the estimated formation temperature reaches 128°C at
a depth of 1,720 m, which is considered high as compared with other comparable
depths (Lashin, 2015).
• Lashin (2013) pointed out that Hammam Faraun area attains the highest recorded
subsurface formation temperature (94.86°C) and heat flow (121.67 mW/m2).
20. GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (CONT’D)
High enthalpy geothermal resources:
• Geothermal anomalies encountered in the rift
of depo-centres areas of the Gulf of Suez and
Red Sea (Lashin, 2015).
• The eastern desert of Egypt has a geological
construction of radiogenic granite with high
radioactive elements content such as Uranium
and Thorium that produces high radioactive
heat flow [13].
• High concentration of uranium and thorium
is also reported in altered granites near
Aswan city and close to Kukur and Dungul
oases (Ibrahim et al. 2015).
Source: Chandrasekharam, D., Lashin, A., Al Arifi, N., Al Bassam, A.,
Varun, C., & Singh, H. K. (2016). Geothermal energy potential of
eastern desert region, Egypt. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75(8).
23. CURRENT SITUATION OF GEOTHERMAL SOURCECS
• All Geothermal sources in Egypt are used for direct-use applications and there is no use
of power generation applications .
• The most common forms of utilization are;
1. District Heating.
2. Fish Farming.
3. Agriculture Applications.
4. Green Houses. (Lashin, 2015)
• Some refreshment and swimming pools are already constructed along the eastern coastal
parts of Gulf of Suez (Kaiser and Ahmed, 2013).
• These pools are mainly used for touristic and medical purposes. Figure 11 shows the
thermal-based pools in Ayun Mousa area along the north eastern part of Gulf of Suez
(Kaiser and Ahmed, 2013).
24. CURRENT SITUATION OF GEOTHERMAL SOURCECS (cont’d)
• According to the international geothermal association (IGA) the direct use
of geothermal energy from 1995 to 2015 is as shown in this table :-
25. CURRENT SITUATION OF GEOTHERMAL SOURCECS (CONT’D)
Oyun Musa
Source: Kaiser and Ahmed, 2013
Oyun Musa
Source: http://www.nilecruised.com/egypt-
moses-springs/
Dakhla oasis
Source: https://www.ask-
aladdin.com/egyptian-
oasis/dakhla-oasis/
• Photos showing some hot springs in Egypt used in direct-use applications
26. FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
• Unfortunately, there is no intentions from the Egyptian government to invest
in the geothermal resources for power generation in the future.
• They may invests in the direct-use applications for tourism field in the
future.
27. CONCLUSION
• Egypt has very good geothermal resources to invest in.
• The most attractive area for power generation applications is Hamam
Faraun hot springs in which water temperature may reach above 70°C
which is a very good potential to install a binary cycle power plant.
• The red sea cost in the eastern desert has a very high temperature
gradient so, it’s a very good area for electricity generation by making a
deep geothermal reservoir that may supply the future demand of
electricity in Egypt for desalination, direct-use, agricultural, and
industrial applications.
• This investments will make Egypt a secure food and water country.
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