Steffen asked:
Id like to know the cost of installing those kind of energy systems.
Id like to know the cost of installing those kind of energy systems.
What is the installation cost of a geothermal, hydro power, and a fossil fuel energy system?
October 19th, 2008 by Discuss this article »
well first of all… only 1 of these systems is really fully in place and developed that system would be hyrdo power… and it cost billions to build back in the great depression, so in todays dollars we are talking TRILLIONS… the geothermal has not been fully developed yet… there is a system that is pretty cool… it takes salt water… Ocean water and removes the minerals making the water fresh and clean…also producing energy… which has several things of great us… the only draw back.. this is a BIG BIG BOMB… it could take out LA in less than 10 seconds.. but.. you could clean the water.. and run it down some pipes that run over generators making power while the water is heading the the NV to cool the hot sand and provide the state with water… or you could put a few of these in africa.. and pump water to the areas that need it…but again.. this isnt fully developed as of yet… so… fossil fuel is still the cheapest fuel ever made…
How high is up?
The cost of any power system is dependent on many factors. The amount of energy it is expected to produce, the cost of the land it will be built on, location and a thousand other variables.
Few, if any large, scale hydro plants will ever be built again. Most of the rivers with the kind of terrain that makes this possible, have already been used. There are some smaller dams being converted as small scale power plants.
A number of places have geothermal plants. But again, the location is important. Iceland is really big on geo-thermal. I know there is a plant in California and probably a few plants in Japan. They depend on a location with active tectonics and volcanoes. The Pacific coast of the US, Alaska and around to Japan are good places for this.
Location is also important for fossil fuel plants. Some are built not far from their source of coal or natural gas. Natural gas being the better choice for the environment.
Hydro power has the hassle that you need a plentiful supply of water and a reasonably large height difference between inlet and outlet
This one is about $3000 (U.S.) 1.9 KW continuous
A petroleum generator can be obtained at most hardware stores for a few hundred dollars (around 1/2-1 Kw)
Geothermal is a bit harder Assuming you have ready access to hot springs, a volcano, hot dry rock, etc, (and water) Modifying a hydro system to use a steam impeller should do the trick.
Scaling up Over 1 MW
A hydro system of any capacity is going to need a dam.
Fossil fuel (coal or petroleum) will require a large stationary motor (I.C.E.) or a steam boiler and turbine. (and fuel)
Geo thermal would be a similar installation cost as the fossil fuel powered steam boiler. (But little to no fuel costs)