An alternative pathway from hot dry rock to green hydrogen by organic Rankine cycle applications

Abstract

Some researchers have been focused on electricity generation using thermal energy extraction from HDRs via Organic Rankine cycles. This new research topic creates a new pathway to reach green hydrogen for countries that have geothermal power such as Turkey. In this study, a well in the Nevşehir region that does not has the potential to be used in direct geothermal energy applications due to the absence of water was examined. By using the heat obtained from HDR by injected water, the estimated amount of electricity that can be produced with a single shaft binary organic Rankine cycle was revealed by calculating the thermal energy that can be obtained from the wells which have a surface temperature of 183 °C at 2900 m 2900 m depth. In the next step, the hydrolysis of water with electricity obtained from renewable energy and the hydrogen potential that can be produced were revealed. This hydrogen, which is estimated to be produced, can be fed directly to the natural gas lines or subjected to processes such as storage or industrial usage.