PRESENT STATUS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND ITS UTILIZATION IN TURKEY : PRESENT STATUS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND ITS UTILIZATION IN TURKEY Umran Serpen
Dept. of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering of Istanbul Technical University
OUTLINE : OUTLINE INTRODUCTION
THE STATUS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY
ECONOMICS OF GEOTHERMAL UTILIZATION IN TURKEY
GEOTHERMAL LEGISLATION IN TURKEY
RESULTS
INTRODUCTION : INTRODUCTION Geothermal energy exploration started in early 1960 in Turkey.
At first, exploration efforts focused on high enthalpy fields for potential power production, and Kizildere and Germencik fields were discovered.
Later exploration efforts resulted in discoveries of some middle enthalpy fields, such as Seferihisar, Simav, Salavatli-Sultanhisar, Tuzla, Dikili, Caferbeyli, etc; however, those geothermal resources have not yet been thoroughly explored.
With proper exploration methods and investment, some of them might end up with higher enthalpy fluids. There are geochemical evidences to support such situations in some of those fields. Recently, another high enthalpy field with 215oC temperature, namely, Kavaklıdere geothermal field was discovered.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY (Indirect Use) : GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY (Indirect Use) A conventional steam cycle power plant with 17.4 MWe capacity was installed in Kizildere geothermal field and has been generating an average gross power of 10 MWe since 1984.
Technologically superior an air cooled binary cycle power plant with gross capacity of 7.3 MWe has recently been completed in Aydın-Salavatli-Sultanhisar and operating for more than 4 months.
A decision was made to install another power plant with larger capacity in Aydın-Germencik for which reservoir assessment studies are being conducted, and 9-well drilling program will be started soon to add existing 9 wells. This power plant would be in line within 2-3 years.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY (Indirect Use) : GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY (Indirect Use)
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY (Direct Use) : GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY (Direct Use) Direct-use of geothermal energy in Turkey has mostly developed through district heating systems. First district system was installed in 1987, and 11 others were followed during the period of 1991-2004.
Direct-use capacity of district heating systems has reached to the total capacity of approximately 250 MWt. It is estimated that the district heating systems have served roughly 35000 households
Slide7 : District Heating Systems of Turkey.
Slide8 : Major Greenhouse Areas in Turkey.
Balneology in Direct Use : Balneology in Direct Use There is another major area, namely balneology and swimming for the direct use. There are several health-spa and swimming pools in Turkey. Their power-use is difficult to quantify, control and register.
Therefore, the thermal power requirements of well known major balneological sites together with some small ones were computed with available data and for several small sites were estimated on the basis of the known ones.
Finally, a power requirement for balneology and swimming is estimated as 110 MWt.
Total Direct Use in Turkey : Total Direct Use in Turkey District Heating : 253 MWt.
Greenhouse Heating: 142 MWt.
Balneology & Swimming: 110 MWt.
Total: 505 MWt.
Slide11 : Turkey’s Geothermal Resource Base Both estimates are very close except for the category over 250oC. Since no resource has been discovered over 250oC, second estimation fits more to the real situation.
GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL OF TURKEY (Results of a Stochastic Study) : GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL OF TURKEY (Results of a Stochastic Study) Convertible Energy Categories of Turkey.
TURKEY’S GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (Results of a Stochastic Study on B. Menderes Region) : TURKEY’S GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (Results of a Stochastic Study on B. Menderes Region) The expected accessible geothermal energy for B. Menderes region is found 5x1019 J and this is predicted from 18 known fields and occurrences.
The basin simulation runs revealed that, if only half structures are productive, the predicted accessible heat is 5x1019 J.
The expected available energy for electricity production is 2x1018 J. Under current technology only 3.19x1017 J.
The expected convertible energy for direct use is 3.5x1018 J whereas for electricity production is 3.2x1016 J.
TURKEY’S GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (Summary) : TURKEY’S GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL (Summary) A potential of a few thousands of MWe (1000 to 1500 ) at Menderes Massive;
A few hundredths MWe at around Central Anatolia; and
Few tens MWe at Quaternary Volcanoes of Eastern Anatolia regions.
TRENDS IN THE UTILIZATION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY : TRENDS IN THE UTILIZATION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN TURKEY Unlike the world trend, utilization of heat pumps and development of enhanced geothermal systems have not gained any footage in Turkey.
Heat pump utilization is very limited due to its high capital costs. Carbon credit’s exchange may not be feasible given the high CO2 content of most of Turkey’s high enthalpy geothermal resources.
Although Kizildere geothermal power plant has long been in line for privatization, it has not been materialized (Oct.15th 2006).
On the other hand, geothermal power plants and greenhouse heating seem to be very popular for the private sector.
Economics of Power Generation in Turkey : Economics of Power Generation in Turkey A stochastic study was conducted on economics of geothermal resources in Turkey (Serpen, 2005).
As for electricity generation, this type of utilization looks profitable with the electricity selling prices of around 6 cents/kWh.
The payout time for this type of investments reaches 7 to 8 years.
The profitability increases with the quality (heat content) of resource and the magnitude (physical extent) of resources.
Economics of District Heating : Economics of District Heating A stochastic study was also conducted for district heating systems (several of them already installed). They do not seem to be profitable with actual low fixed rate heat tariffs.
Several of them are studied, and only a one of them resulted in a marginally profitable business.
Other studies, such as conceptual planning of the extension of Balçova district heating system, district heating project for Seferihisar-Cumalı and Gediz geothermal resources have always resulted in negative NPV with actual tariffs and deposit costs imposed on people.
Economics of Greenhouse Heating : Economics of Greenhouse Heating Greenhouse heating looks very profitable.
It costs 5 million dollars to build a 100 decare greenhouse which pays out in two years.
A power plant, which consumes roughly the same amount of heat costs 12 million dollars and pays out in 8 years.
It may be more profitable to go into business of greenhouse than power production.
Health-Spa & Tourism : Health-Spa & Tourism Health-Spa business is thriving in Turkey, and our Spas were visited by 4 million domestic visitors. But, the Spas are generally not in good shape.
Turkey has a lot of natural balneological sites each serving a different kind of illness. If these sites were rebuilt and proper health services provided, Turkey could attract a lot of foreign patients and visitors who do not have this sort of facilities in their countries, or at least at affordable prices.
Why Our Geothermal Resources Have Not Been Properly Developed : Why Our Geothermal Resources Have Not Been Properly Developed There are many problems hindering the development of geothermal resources of Turkey. These can be summarized in 3 categories:
(1) technical,
(2) economical, and
(3) legislative.
GEOTHERMAL LEGISLATION IN TURKEY : GEOTHERMAL LEGISLATION IN TURKEY There are several draft codes for geothermal energy:
One prepared by Ministry of Energy,
Another by Ministry of Interior.
Another by an opposition representative.
Taking into account of legislations of major producers, this author has prepared a contemporary draft code for geothermal energy and presented to Ministry of Energy. This draft was based on “Integrated Resource Management Philosophy”.
Problems of District Heating Systems : Problems of District Heating Systems The resources have been completely ignored and; therefore, some resources could not supply sufficient heat to the oversized district heating systems (Salihli and Gönen towns).
The worst has recently happened, and local government officials in Sandikli town connected a coal-fired boiler to existing geothermal district heating system. It is a real pity for the national geothermal industry.
Problems of District Heating Systems : Problems of District Heating Systems The most serious problem in this sector is that some local government officials started to reconsider geothermal district heating systems.
They seriously ponder on dismantling the existing district heating facilities and connect the natural gas to the houses for heating.
On the other hand, they consider allocating geothermal resources to health tourism, which has lately been very popular and economically attractive.
RESULTS : RESULTS In Turkey, economics of power generation looks sound, and new projects are in line.
Economics of district heating systems with existing financial model and tariffs in Turkey are not in good shape, and they will not be able to compete with natural gas in the short and mid term.
Turkey has suitable geothermal resources for the utilization of process heating, and this should be emphasized and taken into account by industrialists.
RESULTS (cont.) : RESULTS (cont.) The utilization of geothermal resources of Turkey in greenhouse heating seems economically sound, and industry has already sensed that trend.
Taking into account of Turkey’s rich geothermal resources she merits a contemporary geothermal legislation, but the existing official drafts of geothermal law are insufficient and far from to meet actual requirements of Turkey in many aspects.
Acknowledgement : Acknowledgement The Author gratefully acknowledges the support provided by Zorlu Energy and expresses his gratitude to its manager.