Electricity consumption (Billion kWh)

Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Mauritius 1.14 1.17 1.2 1.22 1.22 1.71 1.81 1.96 2.06 2.06 2.16 2.16 2.23

“Electricity - consumption: This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus
imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount
of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is
accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.”

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 Forecast of Energy Consumption

“ Forecast of world energy consumption, assuming fossil fuel consumption decreases by 80% by
2050, and non fossil fuels increase so that total fuel consumption decreases by “only” 50%.
Amounts before black line are actual; amounts after black lines are forecast in this scenario.

Figure 3. Forecast of per capita energy consumption, using the energy estimates in Figure 2 divided by
world population estimates by the UN. Amounts before the black line are actual; after the black line are
estimate

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GEOTHERMAL
Geo stands for “Earth” and Thermal Stands for “Heat Energy”.

 Geothermal Energy is an economically viable source of energy that can be harnessed for our
use. It uses te Earth`s interior heating systems in countries where hot geysers or hot water
springs are found in abundance. (bibliography)It is very clean, renewable and allows
elimination of fossil fuels. Geothermal power is homegrown, reducing our dependence on
foreign oil.
The Earth has 3 layers:

 Crust (outermost part of Earth`s Surface, forming the continents and ocean floors.
Thickness: 3-5 miles under ocean & 15-35 miles under the continents)
 Mantle (Middle Part surrounding the core nearly 1800 miles in thickness. Magma and
rocks are the major constituents of this layer)
 Innercore(Consists of 2 parts : the Solid iron core and the hot melted rock\ Magma )

Types of Geothermal Plants

o Flash Steam Power Plant
o Binary Steam Power Plant
o Dry Steam Power Plant

Flash Steam Power Plant

Hot water above 360°F (182°C) from a reservoir is released at very high pressure through the
production well where some of the water flashes into steam . Steam is then separated from the
water in the separator,and powers the turbine and the genetaor for electricity production

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.Normally Dual Flash System is practiced which is 20% to 30% more efficient extracting even
more energy than the Single Flash System .
Binary Steam Power Plant

Most geothermal areas contain moderate-temperature water (below 400°F). Energy is extracted
from these fluids in binary-cycle power plants.Hot geothermal fluid and a secondary (hence,
"binary") fluid mostly hydrocarbons( Isopentane or Isobutane) with a much lower boiling point
than water pass through a heat exchanger. Heat from the geothermal fluid causes the secondary
fluid to flash to vapor, which then drives the turbines. most geothermal power plants in the future
will be binary-cycle plants..

The plant operates on the basis of the Organic Rankine Cycle . Which is a thermodynamic
process where heat is transferred to a fluid at a constant pressure. The fluid is vaporized and then
expanded in a vapor turbine that drives a generator, producing electricity. The spent vapor is
condensed to liquid and recycled back.

Advantage over flash steam and dry steam power plants:

 The water-temperature can be as low as 57°C (135°F).

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Direct Dry Steam Power Plant

Steam plants use hydrothermal fluids that are primarily steam. The steam from dry steam
reservoirs goes directly to a turbine, which drives a generator that produces electricity. The
steam eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels to run the turbine. (Also eliminating the need to
transport and store fuels)

This is the oldest type of geothermal power plant,first used at Lardarello in Italy in 1904. Steam
technology is used today at The Geysers in northern California, the world's largest single source
of geothermal electricity. These plants emit only excess steam and very minor amounts of
gases.These kinds of reservoirs are not common .

Injection Well
Advantages

 It is safe for the disposal of geothermal fluids as large amounts of fluids(in the form of
steam and water) are extracted from low lying rocks .
 To prevent subsidence(when fluids extracted from the low lying rocks are not replaced) ,
important in areas where homes , industries and geotehermal planats co exist.

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 Which type of Geothermal Plant can be easily implemented in Mauritius &
where can it be implemented ?

The Flash Steam Power Plant is common plant implemented in most countries. For Mauritius
holes up to 3 Km deep must be dug to reach the hot rocks mistly in low lands and on a suitable
place.

1. Eau Bouilli Spring,Moka, a place where ground water flows naturally out of the ground
http://www.getamap.net/maps/mauritius/moka/_eaubouillispring/

GEOTHERMAL PLANT PROPOSAL IN MAURITIUS

“German company Honet Badger will set up a joint venture with a local company in Mauritius
to produce geothermal electricity in the island.

Honet Badger representative Dan Kellar told journalists on Wednesday in the Mauritian capital
Port Louis that the new company will exploit boiling underground water and steam found in
different regions of the island to produce geothermal energy.

He said there is a great potential for geothermal electricity in the island.The venture will reduce
the dependency of the country on charcoal and heavy oil, he said.Kellar said the production of
geothermal electricity costs less compared to other methods and the raw material is available all
year round.Such production is environment-friendly and one geothermal station can produce at
least five(5) megawatts of electricity, he pointed out.He said the company has already started
identifying potential sites on the island and may start production by the middle of next year.”

Cabinet Decisions - 20 november 2009

“Cabinet has taken note that, in the context of the Maurice Ile Durable Project, it is
proposed to develop geothermal power, which is cost-effective, reliable and environment
friendly. A pre-feasibility study carried out by a Geomorphology Expert has revealed the
potential for geothermal energy in Mauritius and possible sites have also been identified. In the
circumstances, a Committee, under the aegis of the Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public
Utilities, has been set up to examine all issues related to the exploitation of geothermal energy
and to make recommendations to Government.”

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 Common use of Geothermal Energy
“Direct-use of geothermal resources is primarily for direct
heating and cooling.
The main utilization categories are:

(1)Swimming, bathing and balneology;

(2) Space heating and cooling including district energy systems;
(3) Agricultural applications such as greenhouse and soil heating;
(4)Aquaculture application such as pond and raceway water heating;
(5) Industrial applications such as mineral extraction,food and grain drying;
(6) Geothermal (ground-source)heat pumps (GHP), used for both heating and cooling.
Direct use of geothermal resources normally uses temperaturesbelow 150˚C”

Cost is a major factor which helps to determine the success of the energy form. Well drilling,
pipeline construction , resource analysis are the crucial steps required to set up a geothermal
power plant .

Overall cost in the plant construction depends mainly on the oil price.

o Construction of power plant

 (Rs 105,000-Rs175,000)/KW –Small Power Plant
 (Rs90 million – 150 million)/MW–Big Power Plant
 The price of generation equipment including installation may range between
1.5 million US$ to about 2.8 million US$.

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o Operating & Maintenance
O & M include staff, administrative and cost of spares, the plant inefficiency, reservoir
management costs and cost of capital associated with increased working capital.
 (Rs 0.30 – Rs 0.90 )per kWh , Cheap

 Geothermal plants typically run 90% of the time. They can be run up to
97–98% of the time, but this increases maintenance costs.


o Availibility : 90% compared to 75 % of other plants

Runs at 90% to 98%
Closed loop binary cycle geothermal power plant
 450-600 gallons of water/min
 Generate 1MW of electricity at a temperature of 300°F
 A power plant built today would probably require about $0.05 per kWh. Some plants
can charge more during peak demand periods.

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 RoE :Return on Equity(Investment)

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE COST OF A GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

“Geothermal plants are affected by the cost of steel, other metals and labor, which are universal
to the power industry. However, drilling costs may vary as well. Geothermal projects are site-
specific, thus the costs to connect to the electric grid vary from project to. Land acquisition and
leasing is important as to fully explore a geothermal resource a developer is required to lease the
rights to 2,000 acres or more.

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Several factors that must be considered :

 Size of the plant

 Power plant technology
 Knowledge of the resource
 Temperature of the resource
 Chemistry of the geothermal water
 Resource depth and permeability
 Environmental policies
 Tax incentives
 Markets
 Financing options and cost
 Time delays”

Levelized cost

“The levelized cost of power production is the average cost of power production
over the life of a power plant, taking into account all capital expenses and
operating and maintenance costs, as well as fuel costs for power plants that rely on
external fuel sources.

Real levelized costs for geothermal electricity generation are $0.045-$0.07 per KWh, which is
competitive with some fossil fuel facilities, without the pollution. The lowest cost of geothermal
electricity is approximately $0.015 per KWh. At the Geysers, power is sold at $0.03 to $0.035
per KWh. The cost of generating power from geothermal resources has decreased about 25%
over the past two decades.”

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Advantages

 Almost entirely emission free

 Zero carbon
 The process can scrub out sulfur that might have otherwise been released
 No fuel required (no mining or transportation)
 Not subject to the same fluctuations as solar or wind
 Smallest land footprint of any major power source
 Virtually limitless supply
 Inherently simple and reliable
 Can provide base load or peak power
 Already cost competitive in some areas
 Could be built underground
 Some level of geothermal energy available most places
 New technologies show promise to utilize lower temperatures

Disadvantages

 Prime sites are very location-specific

 Prime sites are often far from population centers
 Losses due to long distance transmission of electricity
 Water usage
 Sulfur dioxide and silica emissions
 High construction costs
 Drilling into heated rock is very difficult
 Minimum temperature of 350F+ generally required
 Care must be taken to manage heat and not overuse it.

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 References

Organic Rankine cycle .Source:http://www.ormat.com/organic-rankine-cycle

Geothermal Basics - Power Plant Costs.

Source:http://www.geo-energy.org/geo_basics_plant_cost.aspx#gas_coal

http://www.getamap.net/maps/mauritius/moka/_eaubouillispring/

Text and graphics from U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Program

. http://thinkgeoenergy.com/archives/3987

Cabinet Decisions on Geothermal energy in

Mauritius.Source:http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/pmosite?content_id=1629c5147b535210Vgn
VCM1000000a04a8c0RCRD

Types of Geothermal Plants

Source:http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/renewables/geothermal/types.html

WHAT DOES GEOTHERMAL COST?

– THE KENYA EXPERIENCE
Presented at “Short Course on Geothermal Development and Geothermal Wells”, organized by
UNU-GTP and LaGeo, in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, March 11-17, 2012
Paul K. Ngugi
Geothermal Development Company Limited
Nairobi
KENYA
pngugi@gdc.co.ke

Geothermal Binary Cycle Power Plants

Source: http://energyinformative.org/how-a-geothermal-power-plant-generates-
electricity/#ixzz29YidDzgZ

Electricity ConsumptionSource:http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?v=81000&c=mp&l=en
http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/geothermal-energy-pros-cons/Source:
International Energy Agency (IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA,
http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), Energy Statistics and Balances of Non-
OECD Countries and Energy Statistics of OECD Countries.
Geothermal Systems ,Energy Cost savings
Source:http://treehouseenergy.wordpress.com/economics-of-geothermal/

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 Geothermal energy is that form of energy that can decrease the use of fossil fuels.

 Being a clean and viable source of energy obtained from the hot rocks of the Earth,It
has made its place already in many countries of the world including our
neighbourhood countries in the African continent .

 Experts said that Mauritius has great potential on using this form of energy for
electricity consumption due to its volcanic origin and also we are close to the
Reunion Island the main hotspot in the Indian ocean with its active volcano “Piton
de La Fournaise”.
 Harnessing this energy form will help Mauritius in times of oil crisis.

 This project is feasible in Mauritius but it will be very expensive to construct .

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