Assessing the geothermal combined heat and power potential in Germany

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Assessing the geothermal combined heat and power potential in Germany

By District Energy posted 01-01-2020 00:00

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Alexander Richter, ThinkGeoEnergy

Summary

A study recently released in Germany, investigates the potential of hydrothermal geothermal energy for combined heat and power (CHP) generation in Germany. “Based on the theoretical potential of hydrothermal heat in place, the technical and economic potential is determined with a review and an analysis of existing geothermal plants. To this end, the thermodynamic and economic performance of operating power plants is analyzed and models for the efficiency and the production costs are developed. Based on this analysis, a technical potential of 12.2 PWh $_{el}$ and 16.7 PWh $_{th}$ as well as an economic potential of 9.1 PWh $_{el}$ and 12.5 PWh $_{th}$ is determined.”

The economic potential of 9.1 TWhel translates to 9,100 GWhel, while the heat potential of 12.5 TWhth translates to 12,500 GWhth.

If one were to attempt translating this into a potential power generation capacity number, one would – very conservatively calculated – come to a number of 1,300 MW of installed geothermal power generation capacity, or around 1,700 MWthermal.