Tyndall researchers publish book chapter in “Key Themes in Energy Management” on Springer
5 August 2024
Dr Jingyi Li and Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid published a book chapter titled “Circularity and Environmental Sustainability of Geothermal Energy”.
This chapter rigorously examines the integration of circular economy principles into geothermal energy to enhance environmental sustainability. It assesses the potential of repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal power generation, achieving a 15-34% reduction in climate change impact. Three repurposing strategies are evaluated against a business-as-usual geothermal plant across 18 impact indicators.
The analysis identifies semi-abandoned wells as the most promising option. The research underscores the necessity of policy support and systematic optimisation to maximise environmental benefits, providing critical insights for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy within a circular economy framework.