Geothermal for Heating

Michelle Heath April 2, 2021

Geothermal Series:

For Heat | For Power

Geothermal for heat is one of our oldest sources of energy having been used by Indigenous peoples in North America for more than 10,000 years.

Direct Use – 284 TWh

Heating and heat pumps.

Indirect Use – 92 TWh

Converting the heat power to electricity prior to utilization.

Direct Use

A recent geothermal study of 88 countries calculated the installed thermal power for direct use at 1,020,887 TJ/year (283,580 GWh/year).

China, United States, Sweden, Germany, and Turkey account for 71% of the direct use installed capacity.

Almost 59% of the thermal energy from direct-use is from heat pumps.

Heat from subsurface hot water and steam, has the potential to provide clean, low-carbon renewable energy.

Abbreviations:

CAGR – compound annual growth rate

TJ – Terajoule; unit of energy equal to a trillion joules

Sources:

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