Assessment of enhanced geothermal projects and their optimal long-term usage plans by using the DMS-TOUGE decision-making support tool

This paper presents the main features of a Decision-Making Support Tool for Optimal Usage of Geothermal Energy (DMS-TOUGE) that is being developed for enhanced geothermal systems projects which will be able to economically and environmentally assess such investments and value cost of their integration into the energy systems by comparing different technology alternatives. The optimal long-term operating plans of enhanced geothermal systems will be investigated and presented for a particular site. The tool examines the enhanced geothermal systems projects in a holistic way considering: technology details, geothermal site characteristics, energy prices, and spatial data, social impact, and environmental impact. The decisions of the tool will be the results of a multiple-criteria decision-making analysis where the performance of a technology is assessed on credible criteria.