Introduction
Geothermal is a treasure under your feet at different depths
Geothermal energy is the heat derived from the Earth. It is produced by the decay of radioactive elements in the Earth’s crust and is transported to the subsurface by conduction and convection.
The friction and gravitational pull that existed when Earth formed over 4 billion years ago account for a small portion of the core’s heat. The vast majority of Earth’s heat, on the other hand, is constantly generated by the decay of radioactive isotopes such as potassium-40 and thorium-232.
History of geothermal energy
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Prince Piero Conti proposed using natural steam from the Larderello geothermal area in Italy to generate electricity. He began by performing technical tests in 1903, and the first geothermal energy experiment produced enough energy to light five incandescent light bulbs a year later.
Conti had finished building a 250 kW commercial power plant fuelled by pure steam by 1913 and two further power units of 3.5 MW each by 1916. This is how geothermal energy generation began.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Electricity is the second major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Roughly 60% of our power is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, mainly coal and natural gas (25% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020).
As a result, the whole world is moving towards renewable energy, such as geothermal energy.
Geothermal role in carbon emissions
Geothermal power plant release 97% less acid rain-causing sulphur compounds and around 99% less carbon dioxide than comparable fossil fuel power plants.
Scrubbers are used in geothermal power plants to remove hydrogen sulphide, which is naturally present in geothermal reservoirs. The majority of geothermal power plants recycle the geothermal steam and water they utilize. This recycling contributes to the renewal of geothermal resources and the reduction of emissions from geothermal power plants.
Cost, Installation, and Manufacture of geothermal plants
Resource exploration, drilling, reservoir/plant development, and power generation are the primary steps of geothermal power development.
In the United States, the capital expenses for typical geothermal power facilities are around $2,500 per installed kilowatt of capacity.
While geothermal power needs a significant initial investment, it boasts low operating costs and a capacity factor of more than 90%. (ratio of actual power production to production potential).
Geothermal power cost between 7.8 and 22.5 cents per kWh in 2016.
Geothermal plants that commenced construction before January 1, 2021 are eligible for the Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC) at a rate of 2.5 cents per kWh.
Contributions Kurita in geothermal energy
Kurita manages to treating 247.1 million tons of geothermal brine per year in various locations around the world.
Kurita contributes to 637.7 MW of geothermal energy production.
Moreover Kurita helps to reduce 0.34 kg/MWH CO2 Emission through geothermal utilization.
What is Kurita group?
Kurita’s success story began in the mid-twentieth century, when Haruo Kurita established Kurita Water Industries Ltd. in Japan in 1949. The business was started with chemical products for the treatment and optimization of boiler water, and then expanded to include water treatment systems. The 1960s saw the arrival of chemical solutions for process optimization in paper manufacturing, the petrochemical sector, and steel production.
Kurita Europe GmbH is one of more than 52 foreign divisions and subsidiaries of the Kurita Group. The company was started in 1989 in Germany and is mostly engaged in the EMEA area (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Kurita Europe has its own manufacturing facilities, R&D centres, and pilot test plants for a variety of industrial-process applications.
On April 1, 2022, Kurita Water Industries built a new research and development base, “Kurita Innovation Hub (KIH),” in Akishima City, Tokyo.
KIH is a hub for developing solutions that address social and industrial concerns by collaborating with clients, research institutions, and other global stakeholders to combine varied expertise. Kurita’s goal is to expedite the production of innovation via engagement and cooperation with clients, research institutions, and other partners.
The facility is equipped with cutting-edge laboratory and analytical equipment for research on sustainable water management. A cutting-edge ultrapure water production system can provide enormous amounts of ultrapure water as well as verification equipment such as clean rooms that fulfil the most strict cleanliness standards.
Moreover, KIH aspires to be an environmentally friendly base with reduce environmental effect and CO2 emissions. The green design incorporates a water recycling system that helps to save energy and CO2 emissions by integrating the water treatment and air conditioning cooling systems across the facility and using 100% renewable energy for electricity.
The collaboration between Kurita Europe and Kurita Water Industries provides a global approach to geothermal projects. And that under the slogan “Master the challenges of heat beneath our feet”.
Kurita Geothermal Technology contributes to renewable and sustainable energy generation from a green source hidden in the depths of the Earth. Kurita offers tailored solutions to create the most effective operational conditions, from the production well through the re-injection in the reservoir.
Challenges of geothermal systems
The most typical problems that geothermal systems confront are corrosion and scaling. They tend to inflict temporally and even permanently harm to the process, impair efficiency, and raise operational costs owing to the increased maintenance required.
Kurita´s advanced solutions for the geothermal power
Kurita has geothermal solution technologies that safeguard the whole system from scale and corrosion from the production location begin from site until re-injection.
The corrosion protection characteristics are examined in Kurita’s well-equipped laboratories at the Kurita Europe Technology Centre (KETC), one of the world’s largest R & D facilities for water treatment.
The Kuritherm TM product line offers multi-functional treatment programs to prevent well blockage and/or capacity loss. Direct use applications and power plants can boost total output by providing adequate surface treatment, which aids in system maintenance and efficiency.
References
- https://www.kurita.eu/en/industries/geothermal/
- https://www.lovegeothermal.org/explore/what-is-geothermal/
- https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/kurita-europe-collaborates-with-parent-company-in-japan-to-improve-and-enrich-geothermal-solutions/
- https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions#:~:text=The%20largest%20source%20of%20greenhouse,electricity%2C%20heat%2C%20and%20transportation.
- https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/geothermal/geothermal-energy-and-the-environment.php#:~:text=Geothermal%20power%20plants%20do%20not,power%20plants%20of%20similar%20size.
