Pakistan geothermal renewable energy potential for electric power generation: A survey

Umair Younas*, B. Khan, S. M. Ali, C. M. Arshad, U. Farid, Kamran Zeb, Fahad Rehman, Yasir Mehmood, A. Vaccaro

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pakistan is among the naturally gifted countries that are rich in conventional and renewable energy resources. Despite the massive potential of energy resources, Pakistan is still an energy deficient country and have to import petroleum products to barely accomplish its energy demand. Geothermal energy is still one of the unexplored energy resources for electric power generation in Pakistan. Pakistan can overcome the energy shortage to a significant level by harnessing renewable energy resources, such as, geothermal energy. Majority of the geothermal hot springs and mud volcanoes exists within the seismic belt of Pakistan. Therefore, the country has viable geothermal energy manifestations. Several hot springs in Gilgit and Hunza region are originated due to the collision of Indian Plate with Eurasian Plate. Similarly, various geothermal reservoirs exist in Northeast to Southeast narrow belt along Indus basin margin. The survey discusses the current energy crisis in Pakistan and addresses the role of geothermal energy for the economic development of Pakistan. We served the manifestation and geographies of geologically active zones of Pakistan, like fault lines, plate tectonics, belt, and tectonic thrust, cleanest, base load, reliable, renewable, and sustainable geothermal energy resources. In our work, the hot springs and mud volcanoes of geologically active areas in maps are enlisted in Tables with potential features. The schemes used for extraction of geothermal energy for electric power generation are also investigated. The global electric power production from geothermal energy is visualized and discussed. Moreover, the suitable moderate temperature Binary Cycle Geothermal Power Plant for electric power generation in Pakistan is also described in detail. Furthermore, geothermal plants are experimentally summarized in different case studies. Finally the performance of geothermal and conventional thermal plants is critically analysed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)398-413
Number of pages16
JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Volume63
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

  • Geothermal energy
  • Geothermal power plant
  • Renewable and sustainable energy
  • Tectonic zones of Pakistan

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pakistan geothermal renewable energy potential for electric power generation: A survey'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this