Insights from the Geothermal Rising conference

The global geothermal energy market is expanding as operators look for clean, renewable energy, with an increased industry recognition for its reliability.

In this blog, Galebreaker’s Jeff Ebert explores the outlook for geothermal energy, following Galebreaker’s recent attendance at the Geothermal Rising Conference.

What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy uses the Earth’s own heat as a clean, constant source of power.

Wells are drilled into hot rock or underground reservoirs to tap into steam or hot water, which is brought to the surface. That heat is used to drive turbines and generate electricity or provide direct heating.

The current market

Geothermal plants are now operating across the world, typically in regions with high tectonic activity.

With continued improvements in technology and reduced project costs, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that geothermal energy could meet up to 15% of global electricity demand growth to 2050 – rising from less than 1% currently.

Jeff Ebert, Senior Business Development Manager at Galebreaker, believes the geothermal market is progressing towards wider adoption through:

• Improved exploration and drilling technologies
• Greater investor interest in reliable low-carbon power
• Industrial focus on energy security and decarbonisation

“The clear message from the conference was momentum. All the pieces are coming together, investment, new drilling tech and industry confidence. Good things are happening to make geothermal more attractive to investors, so the sector is moving in the right direction.”

“As technology advances and project risk reduces, we’re going to see more and more geothermal plants around the world,” Jeff says.

Why geothermal?

As geothermal draws heat from the Earth’s interior, it can deliver continuous energy, unlike intermittent renewables such as solar or wind power.

Recent IEA analysis shows average utilisation rates for geothermal capacity above 75%, compared with roughly 30% for wind and under 15% for solar.

The reliability of the source makes geothermal particularly attractive for grid stability, industrial users and data centres that need a constant supply of steady power.

Jeff discusses this advantage compared to other renewable energy sources:

“Solar and wind power are limited; you’re reliant on the sun shining and the wind blowing. They’re not available all of the time,” he says.

“Geothermal however, is around-the-clock and not dependent on the elements. That reliability is why it’s getting such strong interest.

“The drawback, of course, is that you’re limited to where natural heat sources exist, and drilling can make or break a project. If you hit a dud well, the whole thing can die on the spot,” he adds.

The challenge

Where geothermal plants are located, areas tend to be subject to high seasonal winds, extreme temperatures and subsequent water scarcity.

As a result, there is a strong trend towards dry cooling in this sector, using air-cooled condensers (ACCs) or air-cooled heat exchangers, rather than traditional wet cooling towers.

While less demanding on natural resources, dry cooling equipment is notoriously vulnerable to the elements.

“High winds can hamper performance or cause damage to geothermal plant air cooled condensers, in the same way it can with dry cooling equipment on LNG facilities.

“When wind interferes, it reduces aerodynamic performance, creating hot air recirculation, fan blade damage heat rejection which subsequently, impacts the plant’s overall performance,” says Jeff.

The solution

Galebreaker offers a range of solutions to support the protection and operational efficiency of air-cooled condensers for geothermal plants.

Windscreens

Galebreaker’s custom windscreens for ACCs and air-cooled heat exchangers are designed to:

• Mitigate the impact of high winds on fan performance
• Reduce hot air recirculation between equipment streets
• Improve airflow stability and fan static pressure

By guiding the airflow and shielding critical intakes, windscreens help to maintain more uniform inlet temperatures and reduce the ingestion of hot exhaust air.

Jeff summarises the benefit:

“When the wind is going in a certain direction, heat exhausted from one piece of equipment can be sucked in by another, meaning ingested air could be 25 degrees hotter than it can withstand.”

“Our windscreens are designed to mitigate that ingestion and the performance losses that come with it.

“The goal is to keep the cooling system operating as close as possible to its design conditions, particularly in exposed locations or during high wind seasons,” says Jeff.

Key features of Galebreaker’s windscreens include:

• UV stabilised – resistant to long-term solar exposure
• Durable and flame-retardant – rot-proof and engineered to withstand wind loads of up to 120 mph, while modifying the airflow profile beneath the fans to increase flow rate and reduce ACC back pressure
• Simple installation – windscreens can be retrofitted or integrated into new-build structures using ratchets and hooks, with no welding or bolting required, minimising downtime

Find out more about the damage high winds can cause to your cooling system and the costs it can create for your business, here.

CFD modelling

Galebreaker’s computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling service can help engineers pinpoint where problems occur.

This bespoke service models the effect of wind on heat exchange equipment, including fan flow rate, recirculation and dynamic fan blade loading.

“Plants know when there’s a problem with production, but often they can’t quantify it.” Jeff says.

“CFD simulation provides a digital twin of exactly what’s happening, so we can diagnose the problem and accurately simulate potential improvements that can be made with windscreen installation.

“Those improvements can ultimately be translated into megawatts and enable to plant owners and operators to see the measurable returns they will achieve,” says Jeff.

Read more about CFD modelling, and the effects of high winds on ACC efficiency.

<H2> Debris filters

Although many geothermal plants favour dry cooling, some use wet cooling towers.

The positioning of these towers, particularly in areas surrounded by vegetation, increases the risk of airborne debris, such as leaves and seeds, clogging tower inlets, reducing airflow and increasing maintenance costs.

Galebreaker’s debris filters are designed to:

• Stop airborne contamination before it reaches the cooling tower
• Maintain a cleaner fill pack, improving airflow and cooling performance
• Minimise the risk of unplanned outages, saving on operational downtime and routine cleaning

Looking for effective wind protection for your geothermal plant?

Galebreaker’s work with air-cooled condensers, dry cooling towers and industrial windscreens across the power sector, LNG, and data centres means we’re well placed to help geothermal operators protect cooling assets, optimise plant performance and reduce maintenance and downtime.

Our solutions are designed to withstand harsh environments, offering the highest quality fixings, lightweight, flexible and durable materials to ensure optimum safety, installation and performance.

Contact our team today to learn how our solutions can protect your geothermal operations.