Abstract
This research focuses on the spatial economics of geothermal district energy (DE) systems that distribute hot fluids through a pipeline network to multiple thermal customers. We argue here that DE is held back by uncertainty about its economic feasibility when implemented in real places. DE works best with high urban densities, but in the US the best geothermal resources are in the less-populated west. Economic geography theory suggests that the optimal size of a DE firm's service area should depend on the trade-off between the economies of scale inherent in a large service area and the greater network development costs and heat loss involved in serving a large area. The HEATMAP
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3-19 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Geothermics |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2003 |
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Keywords
- California
- District energy
- Economic geography
- Geothermal
- HEATMAP
- Network
- Renewable energy
- USA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Cite this
The spatial economics of geothermal district energy in a small, low-density town : A case study of Mammoth Lakes, California. / Sommer, Curtis R.; Kuby, Michael; Bloomquist, Gordon.
In: Geothermics, Vol. 32, No. 1, 02.2003, p. 3-19.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The spatial economics of geothermal district energy in a small, low-density town
T2 - A case study of Mammoth Lakes, California
AU - Sommer, Curtis R.
AU - Kuby, Michael
AU - Bloomquist, Gordon
PY - 2003/2
Y1 - 2003/2
N2 - This research focuses on the spatial economics of geothermal district energy (DE) systems that distribute hot fluids through a pipeline network to multiple thermal customers. We argue here that DE is held back by uncertainty about its economic feasibility when implemented in real places. DE works best with high urban densities, but in the US the best geothermal resources are in the less-populated west. Economic geography theory suggests that the optimal size of a DE firm's service area should depend on the trade-off between the economies of scale inherent in a large service area and the greater network development costs and heat loss involved in serving a large area. The HEATMAP
AB - This research focuses on the spatial economics of geothermal district energy (DE) systems that distribute hot fluids through a pipeline network to multiple thermal customers. We argue here that DE is held back by uncertainty about its economic feasibility when implemented in real places. DE works best with high urban densities, but in the US the best geothermal resources are in the less-populated west. Economic geography theory suggests that the optimal size of a DE firm's service area should depend on the trade-off between the economies of scale inherent in a large service area and the greater network development costs and heat loss involved in serving a large area. The HEATMAP
KW - California
KW - District energy
KW - Economic geography
KW - Geothermal
KW - HEATMAP
KW - Network
KW - Renewable energy
KW - USA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037316574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037316574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0375-6505(02)00046-9
DO - 10.1016/S0375-6505(02)00046-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0037316574
VL - 32
SP - 3
EP - 19
JO - Geothermics
JF - Geothermics
SN - 0375-6505
IS - 1
ER -