Use of geothermal energy for its generation of electric energy

V energetski politiki se danes vse več posveča obnovljivim virom energije. Med obnovljive vire prištevamo tudi geotermalno energijo, katere možnosti uporabe za proizvodnjo električne energije v Sloveniji obravnava to diplomsko delo. Geotermalna energija je pravzaprav toplota, ki je akumulirana v notranjosti zemlje kot posledica različnih dejavnikov. Tektonski premiki ustvarjajo pogoje v strukturi zemlje, ki omogočajo izkoriščanje akumulirane toplote. Postopek obravnave in priprave perspektivnega geotermalnega vira za izkoriščanje je izredno zahteven in kompleksen postopek, saj zahteva sodelovanje in koordinacijo znanstvenikov različnih področij. Večina geotermalnih elektrarn danes izkorišča visokotemperaturne geotermalne vire, medtem ko imamo v Sloveniji prisotne le nizkotemperaturne oziroma nizko entalpijske geotermalne vire. Za slovenske geotermalne razmere pridejo zato v poštev le dvosistemske geotermalne elektrarne. Njihova glavna značilnost je, da imajo dva aktivna zaprta krogotoka. Vpogled v stroške izgradnje geotermalne elektrarne pokaže velik vpliv strukture na ceno, saj stroški vrtanja in vrtin predstavljajo 70 % vseh stroškov. Simulacija dveh dvosistemskih geotermalnih elektrarn v programu SAM nas privede do ugotovitve, da je, glede na narejene raziskave ter trenutno zbrane podatke in tehnologijo, takšna investicija v Slovenji z ekonomskega stališča nerentabilna.Nowadays, energy policy is paying more and more attention to renewable resources of energy. Renewable resources also include geothermal energy which is being dealt with in this paper. Geothermal energy is actually heat accumulated within the Earth and is a result of different factors. Earth movements create conditions in the Earth’s structure which enable the exploitation of heat accumulated under the surface. The procedure of considering and preparing a potential geothermal source for exploitation is extremely demanding and complex procedure as it requires the cooperation and coordination of scientists from various fields. Nowadays, most geothermal power plants exploit high-temperature geothermal sources. However, in Slovenia we only have low-temperature or low enthalpy geothermal resources. Thus, in Slovenia, a binary cycle geothermal plants are the only option. Their main characteristic is that they have two active closed cycles. Soil structure pays a crucial role in the construction of a geothermal power plant as the costs of boring and wells represent 70% of all the costs. A SIM program simulation of two binary cycle geothermal power plants shows that given the recent research, data collected and technology available such an investment in Slovenia is not a viable one