Direct Use of Geothermal Energy

Operating Agent:
The Federation of Icelandic
Energy and Waterworks, Reykjavik, Iceland

Task Leader:
Einar Gunnlaugsson
Reykjavik Energy
Bæjarháls 1
110 Reykjavík
Iceland
Telephone: +354-516-6680
Fax: +354-516-6608
E-mail: einar.gunnlaugsson@or.is

Participants:

Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, France, Geothermal Group- Spanish Renewable Energy Association, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, ORME Jeotermal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, USA.

Description:

Geothermal energy can be used directly as heat for many applications such as building and district heating, industrial process heating, commercial uses such as greenhouse heating and temperature control of water for fish farming, bathing and swimming, and many other uses. Many applications are well developed and are economically viable, while others are challenged by implementation difficulties and unfavourable economics. The Direct Use Annex will address all aspects of the technology with emphasis on improving implementation, reducing costs and enhancing use.

Work in this Annex began in 2005, and will continue to 2011.

Annex VIII is divided into six Tasks.

Task A- Resource Characterization (Task Leader: Hirofumi Muraoka, AIST, Japan)

Task A will define the available resources in various participating countries.

Task B- Cost and Performance Database (Task Leader: Yoonho Song, KIGAM, Republic of Korea)

This task focuses on collecting, analyzing and disseminating the characteristic cost and performance data for installations in participating countries, with emphasis on establishing a baseline and then validating the improvements from innovative components and better designs.

Task C- Barrier and Opportunity Identification (Task Leader: Yoonho Song, KIGAM, Republic of Korea)

Based on Tasks A and B, Task C will define the barriers which must be overcome to gain widespread use of geothermal heat for various applications.  The research activities necessary to take advantage of these opportunities will also be defined and initiated.

Task D- Equipment Performance Validation (Task Leader: to be appointed)

This Task will define and test critical and innovative equipment; such as submersible and line shaft pumps, compact heat exchangers, down-hole heat exchangers, non-metallic piping and other equipment to characterize performance for various applications and for various geothermal brines.  Work in this task has not yet begun and no task leader has been appointed.

Task E- Design Configurations and Engineering Standards (Task Leader: to be appointed)

The work here is to develop and characterize standardized designs for various applications, with the goal of minimizing the engineering related to various applications. Develop engineering standards for designs, equipment and controls.

Task F- Publication and Geographical Presentation on the Web (Task Leader: Einar Gunnlaugsson, Orkuveita Reykjavikur, Iceland)

The aim of this task is to define a suitable form to present data on direct use of geothermal water geographically on the web.

Highlights and Outputs of Annex VIII
Back to Research Tasks