Evaluating the Technical and Environmental Capabilities of Geothermal Systems through Life Cycle Assessment

Maria Milousi, Athanasios Pappas, Andreas P. Vouros, Giouli Mihalakakou, Manolis Souliotis and Spiros Papaefthimiou
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Maria Milousi: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Athanasios Pappas: School of Production Engineering & Management, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece
Andreas P. Vouros: Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Giouli Mihalakakou: Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Manolis Souliotis: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Spiros Papaefthimiou: School of Production Engineering & Management, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-30

Abstract: In these days of heightened environmental consciousness, many countries are shifting their focus towards renewable energy sources for both large-scale uses (such as power plants that generate electricity) and smaller-scale applications (e.g., building heating and cooling). In this light, it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in technologies that are reliant on non-conventional sources of power, such as geothermal energy. This study is making an effort to provide a comprehensive understanding of the possible advantages and multiple uses of geothermal energy systems, in the context of their technical and environmental evaluation through Life Cycle Assessment. A brief description of the analyzing methods and the tools used to study a particular system or application is presented. The geothermal technologies and the applications of specific systems are discussed in detail, providing their environmental advantages and their technical barriers as well. District and domestic heating systems cover a significant fraction of the geothermal energy potential. The majority of the discussed studies cover the electricity production as the most important application of geothermal energy. The overall conclusion of the current work is that geothermal energy is an extremely viable alternative that, combined with other renewable energy systems, may mitigate the negative effects of the existing energy mix worldwide.

Keywords: geothermal energy systems; life cycle assessment (LCA); thermal energy analysis; environmental and economy profile; environmental impacts of geothermal systems; district heating systems; domestic heating systems; electricity production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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