Introducing GEOPHIRES v1.0: Software Package for Estimating Levelized Cost of Electricity and/or Heat from Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Abstract

A new computer-based model has been developed to evaluate the levelized cost of electricity and/or directuse heat from Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). This software upgrades and expands the “MIT-EGS” model used in the 2006 “Future of Geothermal Energy” study. The upgrades include implementation of the latest geothermal well drilling and power plant cost submodels as well as incorporation of production wellbore heat losses. The main expansion consists of implementing different end-uses, i.e. electricity, direct-use, or combined heat & power (CHP). The new model “GEOthermal energy for the Production of Heat and Electricity Economically Simulated” (GEOPHIRES) can be used either as a stand-alone program or as a subroutine to be called from another program, e.g. MATLAB. GEOPHIRES has the option to either simulate an EGS reservoir and power plant for given parameters, or optimize their design, operating parameters and drilling depth to yield minimum levelized cost. Two case studies were analyzed. The first one provides an estimate of the levelized cost of electricity and direct-use heat with EGS, which is compared with predictions from the widely used GETEM (Geothermal Electricity Technology Evaluation Model). The second case study develops a supply curve for geothermal energy district heating using EGS for the states of New York and Pennsylvania – which are representative areas for low-enthalpy geothermal energy resources in the U.S.