What does the geothermal power industry look like?
The geothermal power sector includes the following categories: • Mechanical equipment and primary metal suppliers make casings for geothermal well shafts, drilling equipment, powerplant equipment, pumps, etc. • General consultants and contractors search for heat resources and prepare simulations of resource availability so that developers can obtain financing. • Drilling and well services firms use technology and expertise similar to that of the petroleum industry. • Environmental services firms manage paperwork, permitting, well testing, water testing, air sampling and other tasks. • Geothermal developers, under contract to a utility, government or other entity to develop a project, often act as general contractors and hire other firms to do the work. • Powerplant ownership and operations firms may be electric utilities or independent power producers. The geothermal heat pump sector includes: • Manufacturers of geothermal heat pumps. • Pipe suppliers, who make the (usually polyethylen
