[LINK] Full steam ahead for the green and gold

[Michael Skeggs mike@bystander.net]

<believer in alt energy, but skeptic of these hot rocks>
Like the shale oil that is viable at $40 a barrel oil (if only they
could buy their energy inputs at $20 a barrel) I will believe it when
I see it. EROI is the real problem. These guys need cheap oil to
sustain their energy plans, and they suffer from the paradox that they
don't have a business if oil is cheap, and they can't afford to
develop it if energy is dear. Unfortunately, unlike, say Germany, our
political system can't look further than election ahead for energy
policy.
regards,
Michael

2009/1/13  <stephen at melbpc.org.au>:
> Steve writes,
>
>> .. computers don't emit CO2 -- power stations do! .. the core issue
>> is greenhouse control: the urgent transition to non-carbon emitting
>> power generation on a national scale. Cheers, Steve Wilson.
>
>
> And it's full steam ahead, for the green and gold, with good government :)
>
>  http://seekingalpha.com/article/76811-geothermal-energy-sources-101
>
> (One of four companies) Geodynamics Limited has acquired a substantial
> Australian land base for HDR development.
>
> >From their calculations, they estimate that nine cubic kilometres of hot
> granite at 250 degrees C has the stored energy equivalent of 40 million
> barrels of oil.
>
> Geodynamics .. have verified 400,000 petajoules of high grade thermal
> energy, large bodies of granite to exist and the required temperature
> of 250 degree C for power generation.
>
> Geodynamics' long term production model supports a generating capacity
> of more than 10,000 MW.
>
> Their 1 MW pilot plant is tentatively scheduled for production Q4 2008.
>
> Proof of Concept certification, to demonstrate the viability of heat
> extraction from the hot rock reservoir and a confirmation of geothermal
> reserves, will be signed off prior to start-up by a team of independent
> geothermal experts from the USA.
>
>
> ** Their 50 MW power plant is scheduled for production in 2012. It will
> produce ZERO emissions, require NO external water supply, and provide
> a continuous source of electricity to 50,000 Australian households **
>
>
> Geodynamics estimates that it can produce power at  $62 per MWh,
> including capital, operating and maintenance costs.
>
> This is considerably lower than current wind technology of ~$80 per MWh,
> and has the added advantage of continuous operation.
>
> The company expects to eventually drill 37 wells and build a 300MWe plant
> that would feed into the national grid and produce electricity at a cost
> that would rival new entry coal-fired power plants. (End of article)
> --
>
> Cheers Steve
> Stephen Loosley
> Victoria, Australia
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