Combining geothermal potential and direct air capture for negative emission power generation in California

Hélène Pilorgé, Peter Psarras, Jiajun He, Jennifer L. Wilcox

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution, CO2emissions have grown exponentially, leading to atmospheric CO2accumulation and concomitant global warming. The IPCC special report (2018) estimates that the atmospheric temperature should not rise more than 2° if we want to avoid major consequences associated with climate change. This can be achieved by reducing CO2emissions through capture and sequestration, either at the emission point source or from ambient air. Direct air capture (DAC) technology answers the latter challenge but is to date hindered by high thermal requirements which effectively limit the net removal of atmospheric CO2. One solution may exist in geothermal energy, which represents a large, low-carbon source of heat. This work outlines the potential of integrating DAC plants with geothermal power plants to optimize net CO2removal through use of a low-carbon heat source and minimize cost through exploitation of existing infrastructure. Full integration of DAC plants with all existing geothermal power plants in the contiguous U.S. could capture 12.8 MtCO2/yr. Other options have been considered and include combining DAC plants with direct use geothermal or building new infrastructure near geothermal springs and wells. Following capture, reliable storage of CO2is vital to climate change mitigation. Several types of geological formations are suitable for longterm CO2storage in the pore space of subsurface reservoirs. The most mature technology to date involves sequestration in saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs. This work will focus on California due to its leadership in strong environmental policy and abundance of high temperature opportunities. Several works have assessed reservoirs for CO2storage in California (e.g. USGS, 2013), through which minimum cost pathways may be defined for CO2sequestration. The result of this analysis is a cradle-to-gate economic analysis of DAC/geothermal plus storage options within the state of California.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGeothermal
Subtitle of host publicationGreen Energy for the Long Run - Geothermal Resources Council 2019 Annual Meeting, GRC 2019
PublisherGeothermal Resources Council
Pages462-468
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)0934412243, 9781713806141
StatePublished - 2019
EventGeothermal Resources Council 2019 Annual Meeting - Geothermal: Green Energy for the Long Run, GRC 2019 - Palm Springs, United States
Duration: Sep 15 2019Sep 18 2019

Publication series

NameTransactions - Geothermal Resources Council
Volume43
ISSN (Print)0193-5933

Conference

ConferenceGeothermal Resources Council 2019 Annual Meeting - Geothermal: Green Energy for the Long Run, GRC 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPalm Springs
Period9/15/199/18/19

Keywords

  • California
  • Direct air capture
  • Geothermal energy
  • Geothermal waste heat use
  • Negative emissions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Geophysics

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