How to Produce Geothermal Energy from Captured CO2

Presented by Dr. Alan Eastman, Vice President of Technology Development, GreenFire Energy(Slides 2-28)

&

MicroCSP – A Breakthrough in Solar Thermal TechnologyPresented by Darren Kimura, President and CEO, Sopogy, Inc.

(Slides 29-42)

How to Produce Geothermal Energyfrom Captured CO2

Geothermal Energy OverviewGeothermal Energy Overview

• The earth is hot – left over from planet formation or from radioactive decay

– Deeper = hotter

– Some places  hotter near surface than others

• How can we use that heat to supply energy needs?

– Produce heated geologic formation fluids

– Pump cool  fluids  into formation, then produce 

heated formation fluids

Where is geothermal energy found?Where is geothermal energy found?

Answer: mostly in the WestAnswer: mostly in the West• A function of geology

– Newer formations are hotter– Much heat associated with volcanic activity

• Tradeoffs– Temperature vsdepth

• Temperature vs drilling cost

– Power production vsproximity of markets• Transmission lines  $285,000/mile• Transmission power loss becomes unsupportable with distance

• Geothermal heat pumps– Low‐temperature heat

– Individual homes or small groups– We will not discuss

• Power production– Moderate to high temperatures required

– Use geothermal fluid directly (dry or flash)

– Use geothermal fluid indirectly (binary systems)

What can we do with this energy?What can we do with this energy?

How much are we using?How much are we using?

Coal Nat. Gas Nuclear Petroleum Other RenewablesHydro Wind Biomass Geothermal Solar

Total = 39.64 quadrillion Btu (quads)

Coal, 20.46 quads

All renewables, 3.65 quadsGeothermal, 0.31 quads

(0.78 %)

EIA Electric Power Production by Source, 2008

Conventional geothermal powerConventional geothermal power

•Uses steam or hot water–Typically shallow wells, ≤ 1000 feet

•Requirements–Geothermal hot spot, preferably 180°F–Overlain by ground water in fractured formation–Nearby connection to power grid

•Oldest, most established geothermal power–Direct use of hot water older – prehistoric!

•Limited number of suitable sites

Converting hot fluid to powerConverting hot fluid to power

Binary power production systemBinary power production system

Enhanced Geothermal, EGS/HDREnhanced Geothermal, EGS/HDR• Many good geothermal‐heat areas do not have hot ground water

• Why not add water?– Enhanced Geothermal Systems

– Hot Dry Rock• Greatly extends suitable areas

• Could supply ALL US power needs

How does EGS work?How does EGS work?

• Inject cool water at surface• Pass through hot rock

– Fracture/engineer reservoir to increase permeability

• Recover hot water at surface• Pass through heat exchanger of 

binary system

• Generate power 24/7

What GreenFire is doingWhat GreenFire is doing

• EGS, but with supercritical CO2 as the geothermal fluid  “COCO22G™G™”

• Suggested before:– Brown (Los Alamos) holds US 6,668,554

– Gurgenci (Australia) has proposed

• Some modeling done

• Ours will be the first real‐world demonstration

Supercritical COSupercritical CO22 and why it’s importantand why it’s important

• CO2 critical point:• 31.1°C, 88°F• 7.4 MPa, 73.8 atm, 1070 psi

• H2O critical point:• 674°C, 705°F• 22.1 MPa, 218.3 atm, 3209 psi

Why hasn’t anybody done this yet?Why hasn’t anybody done this yet?

• “Let’s work out all the bugs in water‐based EGS first”

• “We’re too busy with other projects.”

• “CO2’s physical properties will make it too inefficient”

• “CO2 would require a high‐pressure system, and that’s expensive”

• “Let somebody else show that it works; then we’ll do it.”

Why COWhy CO22 will work will work –– density and viscositydensity and viscosity

• Yes, the heat capacity of SC CO2 is low– At 150°C and 2200 psi, CO2 = 0.349 Btu/lb‐R, H2O = 1.0 Btu/lb‐R– A factor of 3 less than water

• BUT, its viscosity is very low– At 150°C and 2200 psi, CO2 = 0.026 cP, H2O = 0.186 cP– A factor of 7 less than water

• Pumping is easier, cheaper• Greater contact with hot rock

– No meniscus– Gets into smaller pores

• Overall efficiency predicted to be as much as 20% better than water!

Why COWhy CO22 will work will work –– the the thermosiphonthermosiphon• Huge density difference w/temperature for 

SCCO2:at 2200 psia,

– 14.8 lb/ft3 @ 150°C– 29.4 lb/ft3 @ 75°C– Assuming 10,000’ well and 12” diameter pipe, 

this is a difference of 115,000 pounds!

• Thermosiphon has  been predicted

• Similar density siphon effects  used in refining– HF alkylation– Hundreds of sites worldwide

• Density siphons  seen in 2°, 3°oil  recovery

CO2 Density

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

50.0

50 6 0 70 80 90 100 110 1 20 130 140 150 1 60 17 0 180 190 200

Temperature, °CD

ensi

ty, l

bm/ft

3

1000 ps ia1200 ps ia1400 ps ia1600 ps ia1800 ps ia2000 ps ia2200 ps ia2400 ps ia2600 ps ia

Why COWhy CO22 will work will work –– industry experienceindustry experience

• 3600 miles of CO2 pipelines now in use in US

• Typical pressure 2200 psia

• Used for tertiary oil recovery (CO2flooding)

Why COWhy CO22 will work will work ‐‐ economicseconomics• Lower capital costs

– Lower exploration risk– Reduced need for pumps– Reduced need for cooling towers– Greater potential for debt financing 

(commercial scale)

• Lower operational costs– Thermosiphoneffect reduces 

pumping– Expansion vs temperature more 

favorable for CO2

Other advantages of COOther advantages of CO22GG ‐‐ SequestrationSequestration

• Not all the CO2 injected into hot rock formations returns

• 20‐40% is ‘lost’ into the rock, i.e., sequestered

Cost (est.) per ton CO2 

Capture/compression        $55Transportation                    $10Sequestration                          5

TOTAL                $70Cost savings with CO2G

Cheaper baseload power   $  5CO2G pays for carbon         $10Storage cost eliminated     $  5SAVINGS from CO2GTM           $20/ton!

Other advantages of COOther advantages of CO22GG ‐‐ energy storageenergy storage• Can also store energy with 

stored CO2– Stores more energy than 

compressed air– No need to excavate caverns– Very fast response time on 

demand• Couple stored energy with 

geothermal boost– Not available everywhere 

(need hot rock)– Greatly improves economics

How much will it cost?How much will it cost?

$0 $25 $50 $75 $100 $125 $150 $175

$/MWhr

Coal

Nuclear

Solar

Wind

Geothermal

EGS

CO2G

Levelized Cost of Energy

How we’ll do itHow we’ll do it Find site for demonstration

• Obtain funding– Government (e.g., ARPA‐E, DOE GTP)

– Private  sources (e.g., family funds, Google, etc.)

• Dril l  first well– 3 km (~9800’)– Take  extensive  cores, measurements, etc.– Fracture and characterize

• Dril l  second well– Si te  to intersect fracture pattern

– Test for connectivity– Test thermosiphoneffect

• Install demonstration‐size (~ 2MW) binary power plant

Where we’ll demonstrate COWhere we’ll demonstrate CO22GG

Requisite Characteristic St. Johns Dome Characteristic

Good geothermal prospect  St. Johns Dome overlies one

Large volume of low cost CO2  450 MM tons (current estimated reserves)

Good geologic “cap”  (a.k.a. “seal”) St. Johns Dome even holds helium

Fossil‐fuel power plants for long‐term CO2 supply Local plants emit 19 MM tons/year; Regional plants 

emit 90 MM tons/year

Local connection into the power grid Available at local power plants

Why the St.Johns Dome?Why the St.Johns Dome?• No other comparable site identified in 

North America– Geothermal  heat – Source of CO2 – 450 MM tons!– Proximity to power plants  and 

electrical transmission l ines• No comparable site identified in 

Australia• Possible comparable sites in Europe• Insufficient information for other 

continents• At the center of a great concentration 

of CO2 sources (as carbon taxes are implemented, this will come into play)

Four Corners RegionCoal‐fired plant

Natural CO2

St. Johns Dome

Natural CO2

A little more about GreenFireA little more about GreenFire• Renewable energy startup headquartered in Los Angeles and Salt Lake

City

• Four partners with relevant management and industry experience– Geologist/Business– Oil & Energy Industry Specialist (technical and financial)– Chemist– Environmental Scientist

• Distinguished advisory board– Financial– Technical

GreenFire partners/collaboratorsGreenFire partners/collaborators• Formal relationships with:

– AltaRock Energy Inc.: US’ premier EGS company• Sublease key technology

– Enhanced Oil Resources, Inc.: licenses at St.Johns• 50/50  joint venture• GreenFire controls operations committee

• GreenFire partners for funding solicitations:– Lawrence Berkeley National Lab – Pruess Group– Energy and Geoscience Insitute, Univ. of Utah– National Renewable Energy Laboratory– Electric Power Research Institute (cannot be on team, but supportive)

Questions?Questions?

www.greenfireenergy.com

Alan D. Eastman, PhD

VP – Technology Development

GreenFire Partners LLC

alan.eastman@greenfireenergy.com

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Statements made herein are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words used in these disclosure materials such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding the company’s strategic direction, prospects and future results. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. The statements are only prediction and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are outside the control of the company and its management. Statements made herein are current as of the date of these disclosure materials and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. Management of the company does not undertake, and management specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

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Thermal Energy Storage

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