%0 Journal Article %1 Muench2005 %A Münch, Wolfram %A Sistenich, Hans Peter %A Bücker, Christian %A Blanke, Thorsten %D 2005 %J VGB PowerTech %K 2005 economics energy geothermal german power-cycle power-plant %T Möglichkeiten der geothermischen Stromerzeugung im Oberrheingraben - Eine Analyse der geologischen Bedingungen, der Bohr- und Fördertechnik sowie der Kraftwerkstechnik und Wirtschaftlichkeit %U http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/de/87126/rwe-innogy/erneuerbare-energien/neue-technologien/geothermie/studie/ %V 10 %X Feasibility of Geothermal Power Generation in the German Upper Rhine Graben An Analysis of the Geological Conditions, the Drilling and Production Engineering as Well as the Power Plant Technology and its Economics A consortium of EnBW, RWE Power and RWE Dea has carried out a feasibility study to evaluate the utilisation of geothermal heat for power production in the Upper Rhine Graben in Southern Germany. Geothermal power production is supported through the German Renewable Electricity Act (EEG). The study includes the aspects drilling and production engineering, power plant technology as well as the economics of low temperature geothermal power plant. As one result the study indicates clear preferential areas for possible geothermal projects in this region. However, the so far determined geological conditions are by far not sufficient to make a systematic development of a geothermal power plant economic, not even under the favourable conditions of the EEG support. With an optimistic view regarding the geological conditions the production cost turn out to be about 30 Eurocents per kWh, which is twice as much as the tariff granted through the EEG. The temperatures in the geological horizons of interest Buntsandstein and Muschelkalk are with partly above 130 up to 160 °C outstanding. However, a hot water production rate of 360 m3/h as would be desired for profitable projects cannot be expected based on the determined underground reservoir characteristics. Realistically only production rates of 22 mΔ/h can be expected, optimistically 72 m3/h. The drilling and production technology is not really a limiting factor for the feasibility of geothermal projects in the region. However, this aspect determines the project economics through high investment cost. Furthermore, attention needs to be paid towards the production equipment (electrical submersible pumps) because of their operating cost caused by maintenance needs and electricity consumption, which has a significant effect on project economics. Two low -emperature power cycles are available today, which are the worldwide established and reliable Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and the ammonia-based Kalina cycle, currently at demonstration stage. Calculations have shown that optimisation of efficiency for the conversion of heat from hot water to electricity is one key for making geothermal power generation economically attractive. From a thermodynamic perspective the Kalina Cycle offers further potential for the future. Also the thermal efficiency of ORC technology has not reached its physical limit yet. Increased investment cost for such improvements are to some degree acceptable since in the projects considered more than 70\% of the overall cost of the geothermal power plant is spent for underground activities and installations. Therefore a reduction of generating cost is achievable through an increased thermal efficiency.

@article{Muench2005, abstract = {Feasibility of Geothermal Power Generation in the German Upper Rhine Graben An Analysis of the Geological Conditions, the Drilling and Production Engineering as Well as the Power Plant Technology and its Economics A consortium of EnBW, RWE Power and RWE Dea has carried out a feasibility study to evaluate the utilisation of geothermal heat for power production in the Upper Rhine Graben in Southern Germany. Geothermal power production is supported through the German Renewable Electricity Act (EEG). The study includes the aspects drilling and production engineering, power plant technology as well as the economics of low temperature geothermal power plant. As one result the study indicates clear preferential areas for possible geothermal projects in this region. However, the so far determined geological conditions are by far not sufficient to make a systematic development of a geothermal power plant economic, not even under the favourable conditions of the EEG support. With an optimistic view regarding the geological conditions the production cost turn out to be about 30 Eurocents per kWh, which is twice as much as the tariff granted through the EEG. The temperatures in the geological horizons of interest Buntsandstein and Muschelkalk are with partly above 130 up to 160 °C outstanding. However, a hot water production rate of 360 m3/h as would be desired for profitable projects cannot be expected based on the determined underground reservoir characteristics. Realistically only production rates of 22 mΔ/h can be expected, optimistically 72 m3/h. The drilling and production technology is not really a limiting factor for the feasibility of geothermal projects in the region. However, this aspect determines the project economics through high investment cost. Furthermore, attention needs to be paid towards the production equipment (electrical submersible pumps) because of their operating cost caused by maintenance needs and electricity consumption, which has a significant effect on project economics. Two low -emperature power cycles are available today, which are the worldwide established and reliable Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and the ammonia-based Kalina cycle, currently at demonstration stage. Calculations have shown that optimisation of efficiency for the conversion of heat from hot water to electricity is one key for making geothermal power generation economically attractive. From a thermodynamic perspective the Kalina Cycle offers further potential for the future. Also the thermal efficiency of ORC technology has not reached its physical limit yet. Increased investment cost for such improvements are to some degree acceptable since in the projects considered more than 70\% of the overall cost of the geothermal power plant is spent for underground activities and installations. Therefore a reduction of generating cost is achievable through an increased thermal efficiency.}, added-at = {2011-01-19T18:07:02.000+0100}, author = {Münch, Wolfram and Sistenich, Hans Peter and Bücker, Christian and Blanke, Thorsten}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/23ac07a29429095acdf0d9c4afca301e4/thorade}, interhash = {0884e10dda7da0fe3715667ec02f386f}, intrahash = {3ac07a29429095acdf0d9c4afca301e4}, journal = {VGB PowerTech}, keywords = {2005 economics energy geothermal german power-cycle power-plant}, timestamp = {2011-07-21T10:24:55.000+0200}, title = {Möglichkeiten der geothermischen Stromerzeugung im Oberrheingraben - Eine Analyse der geologischen Bedingungen, der Bohr- und Fördertechnik sowie der Kraftwerkstechnik und Wirtschaftlichkeit}, url = {http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/de/87126/rwe-innogy/erneuerbare-energien/neue-technologien/geothermie/studie/}, volume = 10, year = 2005 }