In the latest South African study, Dhansay and his colleagues note that local rocks associated with high heat flow signatures often contain high concentrations of radiogenic elements such as uranium and potassium. In fact, it is these rocks, which are rich in heat-producing elements, that release heat during the decay of radiogenic elements. Nevertheless, the study has identified five regions that could be considered promising areas for geothermal energy projects.
They include parts of the Cape mountains north-east of Cape Town; the Southern Karoo region from Oudtshoorn to Cradock; a large belt of land north of Durban; the Thabazimbi-Murchison belt north of Johannesburg and the northern Limpopo region near Musina.
“SA may therefore have a realistic chance of developing geothermal energy, but will still need additional research and development including new temperature measurements and structural, hydrogeological and economic investigations.”
The actual paper can be found here.
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Article source: http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/scientists-see-geothermal-potential-in-low-enthalpy-resources-of-south-africa/