Geothermal energy/desalination concepts

Geothermal energy development can be used to produce renewable energy in the form of electricity or directly used to provide hot water for a variety of uses, including desalination of brackish water or seawater (Benjemaa et al., 1999; Chandler, 1982; Chaturvedi et al., 1979; Davies and Orfi, 2014; Dipippo, 2005, 2007; Ghaffour et al., 2014; Ghose, 2004; Goosen et al., 2010; Hammons, 2004; Hiriart, 2008; Kalogirou, 2005; Miller, 2003; Ozgener and Kocer, 2004; Swanberg et al., 1977). An analysis of heat transfer in geothermal-powered desalination was conducted by Bourouni et al. (1999a, 1999b). A great advantage of using a geothermal heat source is that if properly designed, it is truly a renewable energy source that, unlike solar or wind sources, can provide a solution for baseload (non-interruptible) power production (Glassley, 2015). Of all power generation technologies, geothermal facilities (binary and flash) have the highest capacity factors and would deliver a value of 1.0 if “parasitic” electricity usage was not needed to run the high-pressure pumps in the recirculation system.