Analysis of Local Environmental Impacts through Geothermal Power Generation A case study how to asse

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Analysis of Local Environmental Impacts through
Geothermal Power GenerationA case study how to
assess environmental risks in Germany
ENGINE Workshop 7, Leiden, 8 November 2007
Stephanie Frick, GeoForschungsZentrum
Potsdam Christiane Lohse, Federal Environment
Agency of Germany
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Introduction

• The use of all energy carriers is related to
  environmental impacts
• These environmental impacts need to be analysed
  at the beginning of the market introduction
• The Federal Environment Agency of Germany (UBA)
  has commissioned a study

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Introduction
Approach of the study

• Background
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusions

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Approach of the study

• Background
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusions

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Background
North German Basin

• Using deep geothermal reservoirs is a fairly new
  technology in Germany
• Only fragmentary experience concerning
  environmental impacts through geothermal energy
  use
• Experiences from the use of high enthalpy fields
  not or only restrictedly adaptive

South German Molasse Basin
Upper Rhine Graben
regions with hydro-geothermal resources
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Approach of the study

• Background
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusions

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Methodology
drilling construction
plant operation
deconstruction
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Methodology

• Probability of impact appearance
• Scope of impact
• Duration of impact
• Prevention measures
• Environmental effects
• Mitigation measures

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Methodology

• Analysis of existing legal regulations and
  directives
• Evaluation of their applicability
• Evaluation of the expected environmental effects
• Identification of environmental risks

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Methodology
Example noise during drilling operations
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Methodology

• Analysis of appearance probability
  Analysis of site- and plant-specific
  conditions

Example noise during drilling operations
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Methodology

• Analysis of appearance probability
  Analysis of site- and plant-specific
  conditions
• Analysis of technical prevention measures
  Analysis of the
  state-of-the-art

Example noise during drilling operations
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Methodology

• Analysis of appearance probability
  Analysis of site- and plant-specific
  conditions
• Analysis of technical prevention measures
  Analysis of the
  state-of-the-art
• Analysis of regulations/ directives

Example noise during drilling operations
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Methodology

• Analysis of appearance probability
  Analysis of site- and plant-specific
  conditions
• Analysis of technical prevention measures
  Analysis of the
  state-of-the-art
• Analysis of regulations/ directives
• Analysis and evaluation of expected environmental
  effects impact, duration, mitigation
  measures,

Example noise during drilling operations
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Methodology

• Analysis of appearance probability
  Analysis of site- and plant-specific
  conditions
• Analysis of technical prevention measures
  Analysis of the
  state-of-the-art
• Analysis of regulations/ directives
• Analysis and evaluation of expected environmental
  effects impact, duration, mitigation
  measures,
• Analysis and evaluation of the existing legal
  regulations

Example noise during drilling operations
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Approach of the study

• Background
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusions

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Results (subsurface construction)
Ground motion Material emissions Hydraulic
short-circuit Thermal emissions Borehole
blow-out Water demand Soil excavation/ Soil
compaction Noise emissions Waste
accumulation/disposal Land use Visual
impact Induced microseismicitiy
Normal operation
Failure
all systems subsurface closed systems subsurface
open systems Aquifer-systems HDR-systems
Sufficient legal regulations
Unsufficient legal regulations / knowledge
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Results (subsurface operation)
Hydraulic alternations Soil subsidence Cooling Mat
erial emissions Water demand Thermal
emissions Land use Waste accumulation/disposal
Normal operation
Site-specific environmental impact
all systems subsurface closed systems subsurface
open systems Aquifer-systems HDR-systems
Failure
Unsufficient legal regulations / knowledge
Sufficient legal regulations
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Approach of the study

• Background
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusions

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Conclusions

• Geothermal energy provision has a lot of impacts
  on the environment.
• In Germany, these impacts are for the most part
  sufficiently regulated by law.
• Environmental impacts can turn into negative
  environmental effects (or even risks)
• if the existing legal regulation respectively
  the state of knowledge is insufficient.

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Conclusions

• In order that geothermal energy generation can
  contribute to a sustainable energy provision in
  Germany
• adjustment of legal regulations to geothermal
  particularities
• scientific monitoring and
• promotion of further RD measures
• are needed.

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• Thank you very much for your attention!

Dieses Vorhaben wurde im Auftrag des
Umweltbundesamtes im Rahmen des
Umwelt-forschungsplanes Förderkennzeichen 205
42 110 erstellt und mit Bundesmitteln finanziert.
Stephanie Frick Frick_at_gfz-postdam.de,
GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam Christiane
Lohse Christiane.Lohse_at_uba.de, Federal
Environment Agency Martin Kaltschmitt Kaltschmit
t_at_tu-harburg.de, Institute for Energy and
Environment and Institute for Environmental
Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg
University of Technology