Geophysical applications to geothermal energy — Introduction

Abstract

Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that has the potential to provide much-needed energy in many regions around the globe. Electric power generation from hydrothermal and geopressured geothermal systems has been successful worldwide for several decades. Direct use of shallow geothermal energy can address present needs for heating and cooling of buildings or hot water generation. Other potentially much larger resources, such as permeable strata, magmatic, and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), need to be better understood and currently need help producing energy on an economically attractive scale.