The Geothermal Generation Gap

All "Geothermal" is Renewable Energy From the Earth

Jefferson Tester has a name that is recognized far and wide for geothermal technologies. His accomplishments at Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are cited far and wide. But isn’t Tester just interested in “hot geothermal”?

Cornell GSHP Research
in "Geo-Outlook"

Closing the Generation Gap

Any dividing lines between the hot/direct-use geothermal and ground source heat pumps (GSHP’s) are closing rapidly. In this month’s trade magazine from the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), an article entitled, “Cornell Researching GSHP Use for Verizon” features some of Tester’s work toward GSHP implementation.

Next month, Tester will be among those featured at a Geothermal Marketplace Workshop to be held August 17^th in Pittsburgh, sponsored by the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Tester will be talking about GSHP’s.

Many special guests will be in attendance.  Bob Wyman will be sharing his updated paper, “Factors for Evaluating Heating Alternatives in New York State”.  A list of those expected to attend include David Danielson, Director of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), James Critchfield, the EPA’s Director of Green Power Partnerships,  and Tholeikur Johannesson, an expert on large scale geothermal (including GSHP's) from Iceland, in addition to an impressive list of leaders from the DOE.

GSHP's and Hot Geothermal Together at Cornell University

The application and utilization of GSHP’s completes the picture for something Tester calls “Thermal-Cascade”.  Simply put, Cascade is the process of wringing every economically feasible BTU out of the geothermal process possible.  We all know that a GSHP can provide 5 units of energy for each unit consumed, effectively exchanging energy with fluids between 25F and 110F.

Consumers continue to be puzzled by geothermal, and that’s part of the reason that experts and contractors may “talk down” to them (consumers). Questions such as, “how far will you have to drill for hot water...?” are met with answers that are confusing to the layman, frustrating to the expert (having explained geothermal countless times), and just not as shiny and simple as other great "renewables" like solar. Perhaps we needn’t explain quite so much.  I certainly don’t understand all of the operating systems that make my Android function, but it works great.  Not many people will ever understand all of the ways to utilize the earth for renewable energy.  But, Geothermal works great.

“Within your lifetime, the house you live in will 

probably be heated and cooled by geothermal energy”

Geothermal: 24/7

The environmental and economic benefits of geothermal energy and its vital role in building a clean and secure energy future are vital and necessary.  We continue to invite industry partners, communities, businesses and educators to join efforts to advance further understanding and acceptance of geothermal technology as an unlimited, renewable form of energy.

We’re on the right track, with National Geothermal Day coming up on October 20^th, 2015. Feel free to join in by co-creating and sharing educational resources and participating in interactive activities in local communities and on-line. Attend workshops and keep sharing the simple truths about geothermal as a whole.  Let’s close the Geothermal Generation Gap. 

Thermal Cascade/Connectivity in the City