Subject: Comments to Draft Specifications for Application of UNFC-2009 to Renewable Energy Resources: from Graeme Beardsmore, Hot Dry Rocks, Australia
10 September 2014
Note that while I am associated with the International Geothermal Association (IGA), these comments are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of the IGA.
Having read the draft specifications, and seeing that they vary only slightly from the generic UNFC-2009 specification, I do not see any major hurdle to them encompassing geothermal energy projects. But commodity-specific geothermal specifications are clearly required to provide guidelines about allowable values of certain parameters. Some specific thoughts on geothermal include (in no particular order):
Comments from Graeme Beardsmore, Hot Dry Rocks, Australia, to Draft Specifications for Application of UNFC-2009 to Renewable Energy Resources.
10 September 2014
Note that while I am associated with the International Geothermal Association (IGA), these comments are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of the IGA.
Having read the draft specifications, and seeing that they vary only slightly from the generic UNFC-2009 specification, I do not see any major hurdle to them encompassing geothermal energy projects. But commodity-specific geothermal specifications are clearly required to provide guidelines about allowable values of certain parameters. Some specific thoughts on geothermal include (in no particular order):
- 'Indirect evidence' of geothermal energy might have to be clearly defined. For example, there might be differences of opinion over whether geochemical indicators of resource temperature provide 'direct' or 'indirect' evidence.
- 'Heat in place' and 'heat recharge' make up two distinct components of a geothermal resource, and these two components will almost always be associated with different levels of confidence. This should be manageable under the RE specifications.
- Similarly, increasing numbers of geothermal projects provide both heat and electricity as 'energy products'. Electricity generation is sometimes sacrificed for increase heat provision during peak seasons. Again, estimating resources/reserves for such projects should be possible under UNFC-2009 but will require clear guidelines.
- Commodity specific Geothermal Specifications might have to be far more explicit than these RE specification about allowable types of 'energy products', default 'recovery factors', requirements for 'competent persons', definitions of 'direct evidence', and potentially other parameters. The range of ways these and other parameters are addressed at present accounts for the current wide variance in resource estimates.
Comments from Graeme Beardsmore, Hot Dry Rocks, Australia, to Draft Specifications for Application of UNFC-2009 to Renewable Energy Resources.