Guanajuato, Gto., January 7, 2018.- Mexico has a great potential regarding geothermal energy, which –is estimated—is 40% cheaper than the derived from oil, and has the advantage to not pollute. However, in our country it hasn't been exploited, which is why the University of Guanajuato (UG) leads a project that will allow to harness its potential.

UG, in alliance with ENAL Group, won the first place in the PRODETES Award, which is part of the Project of Development of Sustainable Energies Technologies, from the Department of Energy (SENER). They obtained $2 million dollars to finance the installation of 500 kilowatts (0.5 MW) geothermal plant for the distributed generation and evaluation of geothermal deposits.

The project leader in UG, Dr. Alejandro Zaleta Aguilar, explained the importance of the proposal developed by UG-ENAL, who won between 200 candidates and will place them as the spearhead throughout the nation in trials related with the potential of the geothermal deposits.

The project consists on certifying a power generation unit of Mexican development and engineering, in geothermal fields and deposits, capable of reaching a power up to 0.5 MW, equivalent to 5,000 100 Watts lightbulbs. Besides developing the engineering for the installation, connection and start of the geothermal steam turbine, the project will allow to evaluate deposits and determine the energetic availability and estimate the periods for better use, through the characterization of the geothermal fluid.

Finally, and as a future proposal, the project offers the possibility to replicate the geothermal evaluation of wells of deposits in different locations, as well as the functionality of the Turbine-Unit under different operational conditions.

The team led by Dr. Alejandro Zaleta has approximately 20 people, between professors, undergrad and postgrad students, who are responsible for designing the installations of the microgeneration geothermal system together with the experts from ENAL, with all that implies: Thermodynamic analysis, mass balances and energy, energy, mechanical designs; design of installations of the interconnection of the turbine, design of the peripheral and auxiliary installations, determination of the system's performance and generation of operation curves.

ENAL has a broad experience in the sector of exploitation and evaluation of geothermal deposits, drilling and stimulation of wells, and the the characterization of geothermal fluids; plus, as part of their work experience, they have developed exclusive models to evaluate prospect deposits with geothermal potential in early stages.

"This team university-company works, first, in the thermodynamic mathematical modeling, they are like computer simulations. Then we make all the configurations, piping and what not. Finally, we assemble to make field tests", details Prof. Zaleta, ascribed to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Invercost Group, an Advanced Engineering Center in Energy, Use and Thermal-economic Cost which is part of UG.

In his opinion, the project represents a new era in geothermic, because they will find that they can have deposits in micro and medium scale, which will contribute to exploit in a better way the use of the geothermal energy, considered the scholar who, since his arrival to UG, nearly 20 years ago, has focused his work to research and use of renewable energies.

He remarks three main advantages of using geothermal: low cost electric generation, zero environmental emissions and use in the long term, (they estimate the deposits have an exploitation period of approximately 50 years).

Many businessmen wish to invest in the exploitation of geothermal wells, but they need the certainty that will obtain profit; with the mobile plant developed by UG and ENAL, they will be sure of the deposit's potential.

Besides these benefits, Invercost's Director considers other important advantages: "Mexico is an oil country, but the renewable industry can generate more employment and more economy than a refinery. We can go from being workers in a conventional process, to become engineers and designers of highly efficient and technological impact processes, I think Mexico can, in less than 20 years, have 100 percent of its renewable energy", concludes Dr. Zaleta.

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