....
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY-THE RIGHT CHOICE
The Environment Minister Of Queensland Hon Vicky Darling
Energy for the Future
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY- THE RIGHT CHOICE IT’S BETTER, ENERGY EFFICENT, AND IT HELPS THE CONTENIOUS GLOBAL WARMING ISSUE Energy. It has become an ever-increasing subject since Al Gore’s Global Warming Proposal. Why is Fossil Fuel so appalling? What are the advantages of running a Geothermal Energy sourced Country? We propose that we run all of Queensland on Geothermal Power Plants. We need to act now, find a renewable energy resource that works for our state, and eventually our country. We believe that Geothermal Energy is that resource. Just think about it. Geothermal Energy is reliable. Unlike other renewable resources, it doesn’t rely on wind or sun. Geothermal Energy works by using the heat from under the ground to generate steam by using a turbine, which ultimately turns in electricity for homes. Queensland has masses of potential, because of its resources, and most of the country is located on the Artesian Basin, which makes it an ideal spot for Geothermal Energy. We believe by changing these Coal or Oil Plants to Geothermal Power Plants, we will lessen the effect of Global Warming, and eventually put it to a stop. This will ultimately make Queensland greener, and it will guarantee a home for our Grandchildren. We would like you to consider using Geothermal Energy as our only energy source. We are asking that you replace all of the Fossil Fuel Factories with Geothermal Factories, in Queensland. We want to start in one State, and prove that this will work, because it will.
ISSUE WITH CURRENT ENERGY SUPPLER/RESOURCE: Oil is a finite resource. What are we going to do when we run out of oil or coal to mine? How does oil and coal affect our climate, and Global Climate Change? 77% of our current electricity is being supplied by Black or Brown Coal Power Plants. The current energy source that most average Queensland homes use, which is Conventional electricity from the supply grid, currently produces the largest amount of C02 of any energy source per unit of energy used. These statistics mean a lot, considering that there are many types of renewable energy sources that would be more environmentally friendly then burning coal. Why is coal so bad? Crude oil, which is the most basic form of oil, is formed in deep in the earth or under the sea bed, and this has been discovered and exploited all around the world for just over 150 years. That means that it hasn’t been discovered for a long time, unlike basic Geothermal Power. It is transformed into oil, which is then refined into petrol or petroleum items (plastic is petroleum) and it is produced at the rate of several million barrels a day. This oil is often described as the energy of the world. Without a doubt, oil production around the world is now peaking. As each possible oil mine has been mined and depleted, simply, we are running out of oil supplies. Technologies are highly advanced in scanning for potential new seams of oil, but there are fewer and fewer places to look. This is a big problem, and we need to solve it now.
CRUDE OIL AND COAL COMSUMPTION IN AUSTRALIA As the diagram shows to the left, our crude oil consumption in this country has nearly doubled. The more oil we exploit and convert into our energy, the less of this finite resource we will have, and the more polluted our country, our world, will become. Although our crude oil consumption may have only risen by 30% our coal consumption has already doubled, and has risen by over 60% from 1980. We need to stop consuming, and consider what renewable energy source is right for our country. We believe this is Geothermal Power. Just because we are rich in these resources, we are also rich in Geothermal Resources. In total, Australia has over 50 coal and oil Power Plants, and they produce an average of 7,533,819.14 tonnes of carbon dioxide. We need to stop using these Stations, because they contribute to the after effects of Global Warming, such as an increase of Natural Disasters, a rise of sea levels, and extinction of animals who can not adapt to new conditions caused by Global Warming.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THIS SITUATION The current energy source that most Queensland’s homes use is electricity which is formed from fossil fuels. In Australia in 2008, 40% of energy used was from coal, 35% was from oil, 19% was from natural gases, and only 6% was from renewable energy sources. Our company, JB.I, is a company which builds, employs, and sustains our Geothermal Energy Plants. Our company specializes in a new way of making Geothermal Energy, by combing the binary cycle and the dry steam cycle, it is more efficient, and it costs less. We will make sure that you will benefit from this very important decision for Queensland in the long run. Although Geothermal Energy Power Plants may seem like the more expensive option in renewable energy sources, Geothermal Energy is reliable, because it doesn’t rely on sun, wind or water. Geothermal Energy uses natural resources that will not impact the environment in any way. We will improve our environment around us using Geothermal Energy, economically and environmentally. It will help environmentally because it will save the finite resource, oil and coal, but it will help our society economically because we won’t be paying for exploiting coal and oil, because we will rely on Geothermal Energy. By using Geothermal Energy plants instead of Coal or Oil Plants, you would not only decrease the effects of Global Warming, but you would also save a finite resource. Some factors that are important in this are where we are going to put these Geothermal Power Stations, and how much one Geothermal Station contributes to Queensland’s Power. We are planning on building 4 Power Stations, which will be processing power for all of Queensland’s homes and businesses. Each of these plants will have 1350 Megawatts of Power. These factors will be discussed more in detail further down, in the Objectives Page.
STATEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES We believe that Geothermal Energy has the potential to be Victoria’s only power source. In this description below, it will show the end results and improvements our Geothermal Energy Company could do to Victoria.
OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Our principal objectives are: To Power all of Queensland on Geothermal Energy This is a very essential goal for us, as our company’s go is to get Australia producing only renewable energy sources. As I stated before, at the current time, 40% of our energy sources are from coal, 35% is from oil, 19% is from oil, and only 6% is from renewable energy sources, such as Hydroelectricity, Geothermal Energy, and Wind Energy. We know that Geothermal Energy is the solution to Global Warming, and we that statistic to be nothing but the past by 2021. We believe that it will take Queensland ten years to build the Power Plants, employ them, and run on them. It should be noted that we can not produce all of Australia on Geothermal Energy; because we must consume the energy slower then it takes it restore itself, so we will need to position the Geothermal Plants wisely, like on the Artesian Basin or the Cooper Basin. To Establish and Build Relationships with the Public Through: Educating Queensland about Clean Energy Sources When we learn and grow through Primary School, we learn the essentials of life. For example, we learn the basics; our 1-12 Times Tables, how to read, how to write, and how to interpret text. But our company, J.B.I, believes that children should be educated more, in depth, about what’s happening in our environment, like learning about Global Warming. Are we going to adapt to the conditions like an increase of natural disasters if we don’t make a difference soon with our emissions? Children are the people who are going to grow up, and be the Politicians; the people are going to make a difference. If they do not know what Global Warming is, how are they going to make a difference. If they don’t know what Renewable Energy Sources are, what is going to happen to our world? We need to educate the future leaders of this planet, Earth. Getting Known We want people to know that their energy is getting supplied by J.B.I, and not just Conventional Energy from the Supply Grid. By educating people about Clean Energy Sources and our environment, as I said above, people will be well-informed about making the proper decisions for the environment, and they will know why the price on their power bill is what it is. To Establish a Power Plant, In the Right Spot, at the Right Time Geothermal Power Plants work by using the heat from under the ground, and then processing it through a turbine, and other things to make it either electricity or a heating and cooling supply. This goal, “To Establish a Power Plant, In the Right Spot, at the Right Time,” means that we want to get our positioning right for our Geothermal Power Plant. We are lucky in this situation, because most of Queensland is on top of the Artesian Basin, So Queensland has lots of Geothermal Energy Potential. We want to make a decision that is still environmentally friendly. To Impact the Environment- In a Good Way This Goal relates to the Objective above. By Building and running Geothermal Plants, J.B.I doesn’t want to impact the environment in any sort of negative way, like using the space we desire, and chopping down the trees. We want J.B.I to be as environmentally friendly as possible. To Start Big- Run all towns on Geothermal Energy
DETAILS OF THE GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT, VICTORIA Some General Questions will be answered in this description of Victoria’s first J.B.I Dry Steam Power Plant.
SAVINGS OF CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) FROM BEING RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
How much Carbon Dioxide will be saved Altogether, from being released into the atmosphere? If on average, one Brown Coal Power Plant produced 7,533,819.14 tonnes of carbon dioxide in Queensland’s, and then you multiple that by the amount of Power Stations in Queensland, which is 7, the answer would be 52,736,733 tonnes of carbon dioxide being saved from being released into the atmosphere, if the factories supplied the same amount of power that the coal Power Stations did, and produced it at the same rate as the Coal Stations.
HOW MANY HOMES WILL OUR GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PLANTS SUPPLY FOR? The Population of Queensland at the current time is estimated at 4,596,000 people. We will be supplying energy for all of those homes, and each of the Power Plants will be 1350 Mega Watts of Power. All of Queensland will be powered on Geothermal Energy.
qw
DESCPRICTION OF THE PROJECT LOCATION OF THE POWER PLANTS This Project, called J.B.I Geothermal Power Plant, will be situated in the South of the Cooper Basin in Queensland. There will be four Geothermal Power Plants situated in this area; our location is positioned 75 km from the border of the North Territory, and 10 km up from the New South Wales Border. It is also 10 km from the Simpson Desert National Park. This area would be ideal, because the Great Artesian Basin and the Cooper Basin would both be in range of the Power Plants. The Power Plants will be positioned 10 km away from each other, making sure that the Geothermal Energy Power Plants will always be working. Below this paragraph are Maps of where the Power Plants will be located. The Positions of the Geothermal Power Plants have been positioned and pinned by the yellow marker. The Power Plant will be in a large building, with each area of the Power Plant in a different area of the building. The main area will include room for people to check and survey the actual Geothermal Power Plant. There will be offices for employees, and room for extra extensions if necessary. Because Geothermal Energy does not produce any emissions, it makes it the only renewable energy source that can be positioned inside a building, which is another advantage.
DETAILS ABOUT THE POWER PLANT Each Power Plant will be: Length of Plant: 20km Width of Plant: 20km Each Geothermal Power Plant will be surrounded by security by Guardtek, a local Queensland security company, and this will cost 8,000 dollars. Each Geothermal Power Plant is 10 km of any civilization, making the location ideal, and determining that there will be no diseases or injuries caught/had by humans. The Actual Geothermal Plant will be inside, which means that it will not have any emissions. There is no actual address for the Geothermal Power Plant, because there are no roads situated near our ideal location.
Picture of The Geothermal Plant’s Location Close up (From Google Earth)
Picture of The Geothermal Plant’s Location (From Google Earth)
Energy for the Future
DESCPRICTION OF THE PROJECT PICTURE OF THE BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE POWER PLANT
This Diagram is a Bird’s Eye View of J.B.I’s Sketch for the Geothermal Power Plant. As the Diagram shows above, the material that ultimately turns into Energy is Boiling Water, which comes from the Geothermal Well. This material then goes through a Wellhead Separator, and into a series of crystallizers that turn the water/steam at different pressures, into a usable resource, and the excess steam is released into the air. After the water/steam is converted into a usable resource, this source goes through the Geothermal Energy Turbine. This Turbine creates the energy source that the Electric Generator needs, to produce into electricity that will be sent to the supply grid. The water/energy that is not used is sent to the Reactor Clarifier System, and that gets sent through another Injection Well into the Geothermal Well, to be used over and other again. This System is unique in its ways, because it does not release any carbon dioxide into the air. This is unique because with most renewable energy sources, when you make the product that will be used to create energy, it releases Carbon dioxide. Not with Geothermal Energy! Below this page is a diagram of the Geothermal Power Plant in a different perspective, because it is the front view of a Geothermal Power Plant.
Energy for the Future
DESCPRICTION OF THE PROJECT FRONT VIEW/MAP OF THE GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT
Energy for the Future
LIST OF REQUIRED RESOURCES MATERIALS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT PROJECT: FOR ONE POWER PLANT YOU WOULD NEED:
1 Binary Turbine 1 Electric Generator 148,000 tonnes of Steel 148,000 tonnes of Cement A Transmission Line/Electricity Line Equipment to drill holes into the ground
BUDGET: Our Budget to complete this project is 1.25 billion dollars. This includes costs for drilling the holes in the ground, buying supplies and hiring people to build the power plant.
AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED TO BUILD 4 GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS: When you build a Geothermal Power Plant, it costs around $280 million dollars to build the actual Geothermal Power Plant. If you then multiple that by the amount of Geothermal Power Plants we will have, which is 4, it will cost around 1.12 Billion dollars to run 4 Geothermal Power plants. We will be supplying the energy for selected all the towns in Queensland, but at first, testing the capacity of the Geothermal Power Plant in 5 selected remote towns in Regional Queensland.
AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED TO RUN ONE POWER PLANT FOR 1 YEAR: To run one Geothermal Power Plant for one year, costs that you need to consider are maintenance costs for the actual Geothermal Power Plant, and paying the staff for the Geothermal Power Plant. This will cost around 23 million dollars altogether.
Energy for the Future
JUSIFICATION AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE ICELAND’S GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SUCCESS Iceland is one of the World’s only countries that are guaranteed, in the future, to run all of their power on Renewable Energy Sources. Right now, 81% of Iceland’s Power is renewable Energy Sources, and 89% of Iceland’s Power that goes to homes is Geothermal Energy. Five Major Geothermal Energy Power Plants exist in Iceland, and they produce about 26.6% of Iceland’s Electricity and Power, and Fossil Fuels only produce 0.1% of Iceland’s Electricity and Power. In Australia, Fossil Fuels supply 77% of Australia’s Power. We need to have a goal for our energy, just like in Iceland. There are … main successful Geothermal Power Plants running in Iceland. On average, these Geothermal Power Plants have been successfully running for over 20 years. In Iceland, here are some of the following Geothermal Energy Power Plants:
HELLISHEIDI GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT The Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant is located in Hengill, in the SW of Iceland. This Geothermal Power Plant has been successfully running for over 20 years. It is a heat and flash steam Power Plant, and it has 400 Mega Watts of Power. This makes it the largest combined heat and flash steam Power Plant in Iceland. The boreholes for the plant were drilled 1,000-2,000 meters deep into the earth.
NESJAVELLIR GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant is located in Hengill, in the SW of Iceland, like the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant. This Geothermal Power Plant was built in 1990 in May, so now it has been successfully running for 21 years. This Geothermal Power Plant has 120 Mega Watts of power, and it is the second largest Geothermal Energy Power Plant in Iceland.
BIRDSVILLE’S GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SUCCESS The Birdsville Geothermal Power Plant, which is located in Queensland, Australia, is one of the only low-temperature Geothermal Power Stations in the World. This Power Plant gets it energy from the near to boiling water The Geothermal Power Plant in taken from the Artesian Basin, like our Power Plant will be sourced from. With the Geothermal Energy Station upgraded, it can provide the electricity for Birdsville at Queensland night and during Winter periods, but because this Power Plant is for low-temperatures, when electricity is in demand periods, the diesel-powered generators are bought in to help the need for electricity. The operation of the Geothermal Power Plant means that the Station reduces diesel consumption by 160,000 litres per year, saves $135,000 in fuel costs, and reduced the emissions of 430 tonnes of Greenhouse gases. If just in Birdsville, a remote town in Regional Queensland, we can reduce the emissions of Green House gases by 430 tonnes, imagine what we can achieve with the whole of Queensland. Imagine the possibilities for Australia, for their Renewable Energy future. “For remote communities with access to hot artesian water, geothermal power may be the most economical and reliable source of electrical power.” This was quoted by Energy Wise Queensland, and this is true. Geothermal Energy is the most reliable energy source there is around in Australia. As we quoted before, Geothermal Energy is reliable, because you don’t have to rely on wind or sun, and it does not produce any carbon emission while it is producing energy. This cost $95,000 dollars, and while it only produces one third of Birdsville’s electricity, this is clear evidence that Geothermal Energy works in Australia. Overall, Geothermal Energy is the right chose. The evidence in this proposal is incredible, and it clearly states that we have the tools and the economy to make Australia the greenest and most energy efficient country in the world. Our resources are unlimited. This is the time. This is the time to make the chose to make Queensland, Australia, greener. Geothermal Energy is the only option. Your’s sincerely,
Jessica Bourke, Executive Director of f J.B.I Incorporation
Energy for the Future
BIBLIOGRAPHY List of References for Geothermal Energy Proposal Alternativeenergycom 2007 , 'How a Geothermal Energy Plant Works ', Youtube, online video clip, Youtube, viewed 8 August 2011, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjpp2MQffnw>. Bing , n.d., Bing , Australia , viewed August , <http://www.bing.com/ >. CARMA (Carbon Emissions), n.d., C.A.R.M.A, World Wide, viewed 5,6,7,8 August , <http://carma.org/>. Callihan, J.C 1998, Renewable Energy, Sierra Solar Systems, viewed 1 August 2011, <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy>. Clean Energy Ideas, 2007 , February , viewed 1 August , <http://www.clean-energyideas.com/articles/advantages_of_geothermal_energy.html >. Conserve Energy Future, 2007 , p. Geothermal Energy Section, February r, Conserve Energy Future , viewed 2 August 2011, <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/GeothermalEnergy.php >. Eco Generatio , n.d., viewed 5 August , <http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/hot_rocks_-_heating_up_australia/002120/>. Geothermal Energy Association n.d., Geothermal Energy , Geothermal Energy Association, viewed 1 August , <http://www.geo-energy.org/geo_basics_plant_cost.aspx>. Geothermal Energy, n.d., Geothermal Education Office , USA , viewed 6 August , <http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld038.htm >. 'Green Living Facts ' 2011, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , last edited 04:25, 7 April, viewed 5 August , <http://www.>. Human Energy , n.d., Chevron , World Wide , viewed 4 August 2011, <http://www.chevron.com/deliveringenergy/geothermal/>. Mannvit Inc., n.d., MANNVIT , viewed 8 August 2011, <http://www.mannvit.com/GeothermalEnergy/GeothermalPowerPlants/>. 'Newjavellir ' 2011, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , last edited 20:27, 28 July , viewed 13 August 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nesjavellir >. Renewable Energy , n.d., ENERGEX, viewed 7 August 2011, <http://www.energex.com.au/switched_on/power_up/power_up_geothermal.html>. Repp Association , n.d., viewed 2 August , <http://www.repp.org/geothermal/geothermal_brief_economics.html >. Rowlinsion , J.R n.d., Sustainable Build , viewed 3 August 2011, <http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ProblemsFossilFuels.html >. Sustainability , n.d., Victorian Government , Victoria , viewed 4 August , <http://interactivemap.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Exponare/renewables.aspx>. U.S Energy Information Administration 1998, pp. 1-5, U.S Energy Information Administration, U.S, viewed 1 August 2011, <http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=geothermal_home-basics-k.cfm>. Your Home , n.d., Liberal Government , Canberra , viewed 2 August 2011 , <http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs61.html>. Mrs Merritt, Primary School Teacher, St Margaretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School James Underschultz, CSIRO, Western Australia, Australia Dr Cameron Huddlestone-Holmes, CSRIO, Western Australia, Australia
Energy for the Future