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Energiforsyning i Arktis – hvilken vej vælger Grønland? - Artek ...

Energiforsyning i Arktis – hvilken vej vælger Grønland? - Artek ...

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power contracts overseas, the United States<br />

becomes vulnerable to political instability,<br />

which could disrupt production of raw<br />

materials critical to U.S. manufacturing<br />

industries. Locating a processing and<br />

refining center in the Aleutians would ensure<br />

a consistent and uninterrupted supply of raw<br />

materials to U.S. manufacturers that are<br />

critical to ensuring long-term national<br />

security.<br />

2. Geologic Background<br />

The Aleutian Arc is located at the north part<br />

of the “Ring of Fire” with high volcanic<br />

activities due to active subduction of the<br />

Pacific lithosperic plate beneath the North<br />

American lithospheric plate. Two major<br />

types of geothermal heat transfer<br />

mechanisms exist, thermal conduction<br />

through solid rock and convection through<br />

fluid circulation, mainly water or steam. This<br />

report focuses on the latter, also known as<br />

hydrothermal systems. The hotter the<br />

system, the more efficient a potential power<br />

generation will be from a given resource<br />

(Nye, 2010, Pers. Comm.). While it is not<br />

always the case, deeper explorative drilling<br />

generally locates higher temperature<br />

resources due to the earth’s thermal<br />

gradient.<br />

Based on geothermal resource assessments<br />

in the 1980s, a number of locations in the<br />

Aleutian Islands have shown high<br />

geothermal energy potential. Motyka et al.<br />

(1993) summarized previous exploration<br />

data for the Aleutian Arc. Generally hot<br />

springs (T>50°C), warm springs (T

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