Geothermal subzone hydrogen sulfide impact assessment (draft)

Abstract

Geothermal research and development in Hawaii to date has indicated that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the air pollutant of primary concern due to its relatively high concentration in the Puna geothermal fluid, its inherent toxicity at high concentration and its very low odor threshold. The existing geothermal well, HGP-A, produces a fluid which contains approximately 900 parts per million by weight (ppmw) of H2S which is about 4 times that found at the Geysers geothermal area in California [1]. In this brief report, an effort has been made to assess the potential air quality impact of H2S emissions from future geothermal power plant development.