Chevron one of the biggest Oil Company is using and investing in the Enhanced Geothermal System in Indonesia and Philippines. Is producing enough energy by EGS to power 7 millions homes. Chevron is willing to supply energy to the world, not only with oil, but also with other alternative energy available that is cheap and reliable. “At Chevron, we recognize the world needs all the energy we can develop, in every potential form. With our expertise and advanced technology, we are devising new and enhanced ways to deliver needed forms of energy – from conventional crude oil and natural gas to the emerging sources of the future. That's why we're investing — $22.9 billion in 2008 alone — in a broad portfolio of energy resources.” The world energy demand is increasing dramatically. The population is growing and by 2050 another 25 percent will add to 6 plus billions we have right now in the world. This will drive the energy demand to the roof, plus that we need to replace the coal power plants with renewal energy plants. We have to think in formal of economic and C02 free energy. There are lots of new ideas of new energy technologies that we can explore, but not all of them are meeting the requirements of inexpensive, abounded, reliable and easy to reproduce as EGS. This is using the “heat under our feet” energy (using the hot rock to heat the cold water to steam and create electricity.) Is reliable and easy to grab and is not so sophisticated to be difficult to maintain and duplicate. The whole world has availability to this source. The price is not going to fluctuate because the supply is so great. The abundant resources will not going to be manipulated and price controlled like the oil reserves. The insecurity of the oil supply drove the fluctuations of the price up and down and affected the balance of entire economy. We have choices to make. The eagerness to support a great new technology will give our economy a good, clean brake and will bust it up. Which way are you taking? Think about it.
You know I could go on and on about how ridiculous the oil companies are. It makes me furious that they complain about the low abundance of oil and raise the price to almost unaffordable and then they go and make record profits within the year. I also can’t stand the way prices shoot way up as soon as spring rolls around. Pretty screwed up in my opinion. I think it’s awesome that Chevron is helping out unprivileged countries like Indonesia and the Philippines. Makes me feel like the thousands of dollars I spend on gas are actually being used for something good. Even though I know that’s not where it all goes. I wish there was a way to geothermally power a vehicle. Now that would be something everyone would be thankful for. Again I just really wonder why not many countries or, specifically, the United States aren’t using this technology. It makes me think that there is some kind of problem that would occur if it were to be the main source of power.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or are we are quick to victimize the Big Oil companies as evil and profit hungry. I think they deserve at least some credit for finding oil, digging it out of the ground, pumping it, shipping it, moving it to the refinery, refining it into usable gas, and shipping it again to each individual gas station. It is an expensive process in which they deserve to make a profit. Pursuit of profit is what drives our economy. I know that I would love to have different ways to get energy, and in the future we will have to use geothermal. I am looking forward to when we get to when renewable sources make up more of the power grid. It is good to see that a big oil company is exploring different ways to make energy. This is a good sign, and what is necessary for us to get around to using them. A couple of questions though how much does it cost to set up a geothermal power plant, and can you do it everywhere cost effectively?
ReplyDeleteI was really impress with the news that Chevron invested into this EGS technology, but one of my question would be why in Indonesia and Philippines. I think that those countries governemts are absorbing the renewable energies a lot faster then USA. our government is slower in accepting new things. It takes them longer to implement something new and good. Even a new low is coming slow, but when a profit is involved they are taking their time to make sure is beneficial.
ReplyDeleteWhy Indonesia and the Phillipenes? I think couple reasons are: 1)Less pressure from big companies in the US 2)Cheaper land and labor 3)those countries are more willing to have developmental infrastructure because their infrastructure is less entrenched than in the US.
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