User:Houdarar13/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
Geothermal power

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
Why I chose it:

During my 8-month internship at Rio Tinto, I investigated the geothermal potential of all their global assets. Building upon my prior experience with geothermal methodologies and technologies, I am confident that my contributions can substantially enhance the credibility, detail, and potentially increase the of this Class C article.

Why it matters:

Geothermal power is often overlooked compared to other renewable energies, such as wind, solar, and hydro power. This is frequently attributed to the higher levelized cost of energy in comparison to other renewables. However, unlike the renewables mentioned above, geothermal excels in providing baseload power, which is not heavily dependent on variable environmental factors such as sunshine, wind direction, and water current intensity.

Most geothermal components are buried underground, reducing exposure to the elements, and resulting in lower operating costs (OPEX). As the mining sector shifts its focus toward transitioning its power supply, geothermal energy can be considered as a complete or partial energy source, especially when isolated from the main electrical grid.

Preliminary impression

On paper, geothermal sourced power seems like a very achievable solution. However, areas with low geothermal gradients struggle to convert heat to electricity due to uncomplete and unpredictable artificial fracture networks. Binary systems in low potential areas also have a very low efficiency. However, as technology in the drilling sector improves (plasma drilling and Insulated drill pipe) and new closed looped technology systems are implemented, geographical restraints to implement economically feasible geothermal projects will decrease.

Evaluate the article
Clarity

The contents of this wiki page are quite clear. However, upon reviewing the 'power station types' section and the 'resources' section, prior knowledge in the fields of geology and/or civil engineering is preferred, or even needed, to fully comprehend the complex jargon and technicalities mentioned.

For instance, the opening sentence of the 'resources' section states, "The Earth's heat content is about 1×1019 TJ (2.8×1015 TWh).[3] This heat naturally flows to the surface by conduction at a rate of 44.2 TW." Geothermal Power (2024, January 25) In Wikipedia

It does not explain where the Earth is getting this heat or the relationship between plate tectonics and heat flow. Further down the section, it provides the figure of geothermal gradient in the middle of 'cratons' but does not give the value at plate margins.

In the 'power station types' section, it introduces the idea that liquid hot water is the main resource extracted, but then states that generators run on steam. There is no explicit part talking about how steam is generated. In fact, the steam is not generated; when hot water rises, it adiabatically changes phase into a gaseous phase. This is not mentioned in the section.

Structure

The structure of this wiki page is logically broken down into six subsections. Four sections focus on engineering and geological technicalities that make geothermal power generation possible. The last two sections focus on environmental concerns and the economics of geothermal power projects.

The economics section is quite brief and is at the end of the whole Wiki-page. However, after geographical setting respective to geology, the economics of a project is the second most important deciding factor for the implementation of a geothermal power generation project. The economic section should be moved up further into the bulk of the wiki page rather than sitting at the bottom.

Despite geothermal power generation being proven to be very close to carbon neutral, the environmental impact section of this wiki page is three to four times larger than the economics part.

The economics section should compare geothermal technology to other renewable technologies, as geothermal's main competitors are also other renewables.

Balanced coverage

The coverage in this article is very balanced, considering both present and aging technologies. It goes beyond geological engineering challenges, encompassing environmental impacts and economic considerations.

The article does not necessarily advocate for the implementation of one technology over another. Instead, it lists the pros and cons for each technology and outlines the suitable characteristics for implementation.

However, it tends to focus heavily on enhanced geothermal systems, which are most implemented in the United States. Given the U.S.'s leadership in geothermal power, this perspective is understandable. Nevertheless, the article demonstrates an Americentric point of view, particularly noticeable in the resources and worldwide production sections. Enhanced geothermal systems, despite their high risk and primarily being attempted in the United States or Europe, receive more attention. The more practical hydrothermal resources found across the world, despite contributing the most electricity to geothermal power generation, are less emphasized in this wiki-page.

Neutrality

Quite possibly the best-attributed characteristic of this article is its tone and neutrality. Every time a new idea, topic, or technology is first introduced, it states its pros and cons. For example, "Dry steam stations are the simplest and oldest design"; however, "Dry steam power directly uses geothermal steam of 150 °C or greater to turn turbines." Another good example in the environmental section is, "Geothermal has minimal land and freshwater requirements," and then it follows up with, "Station construction can adversely affect land stability. Subsidence has occurred in the Wairakei field in New Zealand." The best example is the concluding sentence of the wiki page: "Geothermal power is highly scalable; a small power station can supply a rural village, though initial capital costs can be high." Geothermal Power (2024, January 25) In Wikipedia

Sources

Reliable sources

·      International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

·      National Geographic

·      Princeton University

·      International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

·      Science direct

·      ICE: Civil engineering publications

·      Zenodo

Less reliable sources

·      Stuff LTD (local kiwi newspaper)

·      Interestingengineering.com (self-publishing website)

The wiki page employs a total of fifty-four sources, with the majority being reputable agencies, academic journals, or university-published papers. Throughout the page, there are already sections where [citation is needed] for multiple sentences which contributes to the justification of its class C rank.

I propose to add a "[citation needed]" in brackets at the end of the phrase: "Geothermal power requires no fuel; it is therefore immune to fuel cost fluctuations. However, capital costs tend to be high." Geothermal Power (2024, January 25) In Wikipedia .While the first claim, that no fuel is needed, is self-explanatory and clarified in the 'resources' section, the assertion about high capital costs may be a point of contention. The first step is to provide a citation. Additionally, the statement raises questions about what makes geothermal power cost-competitive, especially in comparison to fossil fuels or other renewables. Exploring factors such as low operating costs may help address this confusion.

Suggestions for improvement

In my opinion, the article is comprehensive, yet there is a lack of information regarding emerging technologies in the realm of geothermal power generation, which could reshape the landscape.

An example is the longstanding constraint of drilling costs in geothermal energy. Companies like I-Pulse, GA Drilling, Alta rock, and Quaise claim to be in the early stages of developing contact millimeter drilling technologies. If proven and refined, these technologies could enable economically feasible drilling up to 10-20 km into the ground, eliminating geographical constraints on the implementation of geothermal technology.

I-Pulse also proposes novel rock stimulation processes involving electrohydraulic fracking instead of high fluid injection, potentially creating continuous and complete fracture networks for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS).

Venture capital-backed companies, such as GreenFire Energy, propose the creation of mechanical 'batteries' capable of transforming electrical power into heat and storing underground during non-peak hours.

Forecasts on geothermal demand due to the energy transition, especially in the mining sector, could also be discussed in the article.

In conclusion, the suggestion is to add a new section on future technologies and the anticipated demand for geothermal energy.