Primary Systems | Binary Systems | Heating and Cooling

GEOTHERMAL: Heat from the ground has always been an intriguing source of energy, but only recently has it become practical to tap this resource for the large-scale production of electricity. This energy source is abundant, reliable, and carbon neutral, making it one of the most attractive new sources of energy available today. Unlike wind or solar energy, it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means it can compete with coal and nuclear for BASE LOAD utility supplies.

The map below shows the areas in red where boiling water and steam can be extracted directly from the ground. These areas are suitable for operating power plants with steam turbines. Power plants that can operate directly from steam coming up out of the ground are called Primary Systems.

The areas in orange are suitable for low grade heat collection using heatpump technology for power production. Power plants that extract heat from the gound and transfer it to a working fluid are called Binary Systems.

And finally, the areas in gray are suitable for heat collection from the ground to reduce the costs of heating and cooling for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings throughout the whole country.

Geothermal power is one of the fastest growing alternative energy sectors in the economy right now. Large scale projects for the production of electricity using geothermal energy are being built right now in New Mexico, Utah, Hawaii, Alaska and else where.

For more information about geothermal power, please follow the links at the top of the page.