facilities is hydrogen sulfide, contained in the geothermalfluids ex-
the salinity of the Salton Sea
resulting from use of agricultural
Mesaarea.
We used computer models of at-
hydrogen sulfide released depends. mospheric transport to simulate air
quality changes resulting from
3000 MW of energy-generating
capacity. The results of our simulations indicate that if hydrogen
on its concentration in the geother-
mal fluid and the quantity of fluid
processed per MWhofelectricity
generated. Without control, power
|
T
Cities
re
L__-+ Niland
(i Calipatria
¢
he Geothermal areas
=
_
3680
e Geothermal sites
uf
a
55 g/MWhforfacilities in the East
produce steam used to run a turbine generator. The amountof
43
: ol and
160 g/MWh, compared with a
potential emission rate of
ter these fluids are “flashed” to
_ Air quality
The principal gaseous pollutant
that could be released to the atmosphere from geothermal!
-3
area could emit as much as
tracted from subsurface reservoirs.
It is released to the atmosphere af-
waste waters for power plant cooling, and (c) induced subsidence
and seismicity associated with
the extraction and injection of
geothermal fluids.
ct pee
ee bol}
plants in the Salton Sea resource |
—
~ 3660
mA
|
ht
Brawley
z
&
3
=
S 3640 |—
a.
a
.
Lo
=
km
IBA
Qo
iI
3600
600
.
—_—
ic
Q
<G)
|
620
|
640
|
660
UTM coordinates — km
680
Isopleth plot showing estimates of how
PIG. & much of the time the California air-quality
standard for hydrogen sulfide (42 .g/m* averaged over
medium-growth scenario for geothermal
one hour) would be exceeded in the Imperial Valley,
assuming a geothermal production capacity of 3000 MW.
(Along a 1.0 isopleth, the standard is exceeded all
the time, along a 0.25 isopleth the standard is exceeded
one-fourth of the time, etc.) To prevent violations of
the hydrogen sulfide standard at that level of energy
development, facilities in the Salton Sea and Brawley
resource areas would have to reduce emissions by
approximately 82%.
year 2010). This siting pattem was prepared to enable us
to carry out an assessment of the environmental impact
of geothermal operations in the valley. At 3000 MW,
powerplants and related facilities will use, at most, only
about 0.2% of the land normally irrigated in the valley.
20
9096 G4
ic
pUS. 5+ Calexico
:
development in the Imperial Valley (to 3000 MW in the
a
t-2 Heber
——
Mexico
Powerplant siting pattern postulated for a
ald
| ElCentro
Holtviile’ «.,?
cee rg ni
eal
8
0
1
5
FT
| (mperial
‘Seeley | El Centro
s
-
3620
roi
Imperial
2anpe