Non-electric applications of geothermal energy in six Alaskan towns. Final report, October 1976--November 1977. [Barrow, Huslia, Kiana, Nikolski, Nome, and Wrangell]

• Main Authors: Farquhar, J., Grijalva, R., Kirkwood, P.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; ALASKA; GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; BUILDINGS; GEOTHERMAL SPACE HEATING; GEOTHERMAL DISTRICT HEATING; COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT; GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DESIGN; AGRICULTURE; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COST; DIAGRAMS; FLOWSHEETS; GEOLOGY; GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION; GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS; GEOTHERMAL WELLS; LEGAL ASPECTS; MAPS; OIL WELLS; REMOTE AREAS; SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS; TABLES; URBAN AREAS; WELL DRILLING; DISTRICT HEATING; DRILLING; ENERGY; ENERGY SOURCES; EXPLORATION; GEOTHERMAL HEATING; HEATING; HEATING SYSTEMS; INFORMATION; NORTH AMERICA; PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; SPACE HEATING; TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS; USA; WELLS; Pacific; Huslia; Barrow; Nome; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6742773; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6742773; https://doi.org/10.2172/6742773

The potential for direct (non-electric) utilization of local-gradient geothermal energy in six Alaskan towns is summarized. A major objective of this study was to stimulate development and use of the geothermal resource provided by the earth's average thermal gradient, as opposed to the few anomalies that are typically chosen for geothermal development. Hence, six towns for study were selected as being representative of remote Alaskan conditions, rather than for their proximity to known geothermal resources. The moderate-temperature heat available almost everywhere at depths of two to four kilometers into the earth's mantle could satisfy a major portion of the nation's heating requirements--but the cost must be reduced. It is concluded that a geothermal demonstration in Nome would probably be successful and would promote this objective.