Comparison of geothermal with solar and wind power generation systems. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Kewen; Bian, Huiyuan; Liu, Changwei; Zhang, Danfeng; Yang, Yanan
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 42(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 1464
• Page End: 1474
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Geothermal energy -- Solar -- Wind power generation -- Comparison; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.10.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Geothermal, solar and wind are all clean, renewable energies with a huge amount of resources and a great potential of electricity generation. Geothermal energy had definitely dominated the renewable energy market in terms of the installed electricity power about 30 years ago. The unfortunate fact is that the total installed capacity of geothermal electricity has been eclipsed by solar and wind in recent years. In this paper, benefits of using renewable energy resources (RER) have been summarized and attempt has been made to explain the recent trends causing the shift from geothermal energy to solar and wind. Cost, payback time, size of power generation, construction time, resource capacity, characteristics of resource, and other factors were to compare geothermal, solar, and wind power generation systems. Furthermore, historical data from geothermal, solar, and wind industries were collected and analyzed at the global scale. The data from hydropower were also considered in the comparison. Finally, we proposed suggestions for the geothermal industry to catch up with solar and wind industries.