geothermal energy essay example

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Geothermal energy.

Geothermal energy is heat that is generated within the Earth. It is a renewable resource that can be harvested for human use.

Earth Science, Geology, Engineering

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Geothermal energy  is heat that is generated within the Earth. ( Geo  means “earth,” and  thermal  means “heat” in Greek.) It is a  renewable resource  that can be harvested for human use. About 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) below the Earth’s crust, or surface, is the hottest part of our planet: the  core . A small portion of the core ’s heat comes from the  friction  and  gravitational pull  formed when Earth was created more than 4 billion years ago. However, the vast majority of Earth’s heat is constantly generated by the decay of  radioactive   isotopes , such as potassium-40 and thorium-232. Isotopes are forms of an element that have a different number of  neutrons than regular versions of the element ’s atom.

Potassium, for instance, has 20 neutrons in its nucleus. Potassium-40, however, has 21 neutrons . As potassium-40 decays, its nucleus changes, emitting enormous amounts of energy (radiation). Potassium-40 most often decays to isotopes of calcium (calcium-40) and argon (argon-40). Radioactive decay is a continual process in the core . Temperatures there rise to more than 5,000° Celsius (about 9,000° Fahrenheit). Heat from the core is constantly radiating outward and warming rocks, water, gas, and other geological material. Earth’s temperature rises with depth from the surface to the core . This gradual change in temperature is known as the  geothermal gradient . In most parts of the world, the geothermal gradient is about 25° C per 1 kilometer of depth (1° F per 77 feet of depth). If underground rock formations are heated to about 700-1,300° C (1,300-2,400° F), they can become magma .  Magma  is molten (partly melted) rock permeated by gas and gas bubbles. Magma exists in the  mantle  and lower crust, and sometimes bubbles to the surface as  lava .

Magma heats nearby rocks and underground  aquifers . Hot water can be released through  geysers ,  hot springs , steam   vents , underwater  hydrothermal   vents , and  mud pots .

These are all sources of geothermal energy . Their heat can be captured and used directly for heat, or their steam can be used to generate  electricity . Geothermal energy can be used to heat structures such as buildings, parking lots, and sidewalks. Most of the Earth’s geothermal energy does not bubble out as magma , water, or steam . It remains in the mantle , emanating outward at a slow pace and collecting as pockets of high heat. This dry geothermal heat can be accessed by drilling, and enhanced with injected water to create steam . Many countries have developed methods of tapping into geothermal energy . Different types of geothermal energy are available in different parts of the world. In Iceland, abundant sources of hot, easily accessible underground water make it possible for most people to rely on geothermal sources as a safe, dependable, and inexpensive source of energy. Other countries, such as the U.S., must drill for geothermal energy at greater cost. Harvesting Geothermal Energy: Heating and Cooling Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy Almost anywhere in the world, geothermal heat can be accessed and used immediately as a source of heat. This heat energy is called  low-temperature geothermal energy . Low-temperature geothermal energy is obtained from pockets of heat about 150° C (302° F). Most pockets of low-temperature geothermal energy are found just a few meters below ground. Low-temperature geothermal energy can be used for heating greenhouses, homes, fisheries, and industrial processes. Low-temperature energy is most efficient when used for heating, although it can sometimes be used to generate electricity . People have long used this type of geothermal energy for  engineering , comfort, healing, and cooking. Archaeological evidence shows that 10,000 years ago, groups of  Native Americans gathered around naturally occurring hot springs to  recuperate  or take  refuge  from conflict. In the third century BCE, scholars and leaders warmed themselves in a hot spring fed by a stone pool near Lishan, a mountain in central China. One of the most famous hot spring spas is in the appropriately named town of Bath, England. Starting construction in about 60 CE, Roman conquerors built an elaborate system of steam rooms and pools using heat from the region’s shallow pockets of low-temperature geothermal energy .

The hot springs of Chaudes Aigues, France, have provided a source of income and energy for the town since the 1300s. Tourists flock to the town for its elite  spas . The low-temperature geothermal energy also supplies heat to homes and businesses. The United States opened its first geothermal district heating system in 1892 in Boise, Idaho. This system still provides heat to about 450 homes. Co-Produced Geothermal Energy Co-produced geothermal energy   technology relies on other energy sources. This form of geothermal energy uses water that has been heated as a byproduct in oil and gas wells. In the United States, about 25 billion barrels of hot water are produced every year as a  byproduct . In the past, this hot water was simply discarded. Recently, it has been recognized as a potential source of even more energy: Its steam can be used to generate electricity to be used immediately or sold to the grid. One of the first co-produced geothermal energy projects was initiated at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

Newer technology has allowed co-produced geothermal energy facilities to be  portable . Although still in experimental stages, mobile power plants hold tremendous potential for isolated or impoverished communities. Geothermal Heat Pumps Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) take advantage of the Earth’s heat, and can be used almost anywhere in the world. GHPs are drilled about 3 to 90 meters (10 to 300 feet) deep, much shallower than most oil and natural gas wells. GHPs do not require fracturing  bedrock  to reach their energy source.

A pipe connected to a GHP is arranged in a continuous loop—called a "slinky loop"—that circles underground and above ground, usually throughout a building. The loop can also be contained entirely underground, to heat a parking lot or landscaped area. In this system, water or other liquids (such as glycerol, similar to a car’s  antifreeze ) move through the pipe. During the cold season, the liquid absorbs underground geothermal heat. It carries the heat upward through the building and gives off warmth through a duct system. These heated pipes can also run through hot water tanks and offset water-heating costs. During the summer, the GHP system works the opposite way: The liquid in the pipes is warmed from the heat in the building or parking lot, and carries the heat to be cooled underground. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called geothermal heating the most energy-efficient and environmentally safe heating and cooling system. The largest GHP system was completed in 2012 at Ball State University in Indiana. The system replaced a coal -fired boiler system, and experts estimate the university will save about $2 million a year in heating costs. Harvesting Geothermal Energy: Electricity In order to obtain enough energy to generate electricity, geothermal power plants rely on heat that exists a few kilometers below the surface of the Earth. In some areas, the heat can naturally exist underground as pockets steam or hot water. However, most areas need to be “enhanced” with injected water to create steam. Dry-Steam Power Plants Dry- steam power plants take advantage of natural underground sources of steam . The steam is piped directly to a power plant, where it is used to fuel  turbines and generate electricity . Dry steam is the oldest type of power plant to generate electricity using geothermal energy . The first dry- steam power plant was constructed in Larderello, Italy, in 1911. Today, the dry- steam power plants at Larderello continue to supply electricity to more than a million residents of the area. There are only two known sources of underground steam in the United States: Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and The Geysers in California. Since Yellowstone is a protected area, The Geysers is the only place where a dry- steam power plant is in use. It is one of the largest geothermal energy complexes in the world, and provides about a fifth of all renewable energy in California.

Flash-Steam Power Plant

Flash- steam power plants use naturally occurring sources of underground hot water and steam . Water that is hotter than 182° C (360° F) is pumped into a low-pressure area. Some of the water “flashes,” or evaporates rapidly into steam , and is funneled out to power a turbine and generate electricity . Any remaining water can be flashed in a separate tank to extract more energy.

Flash- steam power plants are the most common type of geothermal power plants. The volcanically active island nation of Iceland supplies nearly all its electrical needs through a series of flash- steam geothermal power plants. The steam and excess warm water produced by the flash- steam process heat icy sidewalks and parking lots in the  frigid  Arctic winter. The islands of the Philippines also sit over a tectonically active area, the " Ring of Fire " that rims the Pacific Ocean. Government and industry in the Philippines have invested in flash- steam power plants , and today the nation is second only to the United States in its use of geothermal energy . In fact, the largest single geothermal power plant is a flash- steam facility in Malitbog, Philippines. Binary Cycle Power Plants Binary cycle power plants use a unique process to conserve water and generate heat. Water is heated underground to about 107°-182° C (225°-360° F). The hot water is contained in a pipe, which cycles above ground. The hot water heats a liquid organic compound that has a lower boiling point than water. The organic liquid creates steam , which flows through a turbine and powers a generator to create electricity . The only emission in this process is steam . The water in the pipe is recycled back to the ground, to be re-heated by the Earth and provide heat for the organic compound again. The Beowawe Geothermal Facility in the U.S. state of Nevada uses the binary cycle to generate electricity . The organic compound used at the facility is an industrial refrigerant (tetrafluoroethane, a  greenhouse gas ). This refrigerant has a much lower boiling point than water, meaning it is converted into gas at low temperatures. The gas fuels the turbines , which are connected to electrical generators. Enhanced Geothermal Systems The Earth has virtually endless amounts of energy and heat beneath its surface. However, it is not possible to use it as energy unless the underground areas are " hydrothermal ." This means the underground areas are not only hot, but also contain liquid and are  permeable . Many areas do not have all three of these components. An  enhanced geothermal system (EGS)  uses drilling, fracturing, and injection to provide fluid and permeability in areas that have hot—but dry—underground rock. To develop an EGS, an “injection well” is drilled vertically into the ground. Depending on the type of rock, this can be as shallow as 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) to as deep as 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles). High-pressure cold water is injected into the drilled space , which forces the rock to create new fractures, expand existing fractures, or dissolve. This creates a reservoir of underground fluid.

Water is pumped through the injection well and absorbs the rocks’ heat as it flows through the reservoir. This hot water, called  brine , is then piped back up to Earth’s surface through a “production well.” The heated brine is contained in a pipe. It warms a secondary fluid that has a low boiling point, which evaporates to steam and powers a turbine . The brine cools off, and cycles back down through the injection well to absorb underground heat again. There are no gaseous emissions besides the water vapor from the  evaporated liquid. Pumping water into the ground for EGSs can cause seismic activity, or small  earthquakes . In Basel, Switzerland, the injection process caused hundreds of tiny earthquakes that grew to more significant seismic activity even after the water injection was halted. This led to the geothermal project being canceled in 2009. Geothermal Energy and the Environment Geothermal energy is a renewable resource. The Earth has been emitting heat for about 4.5 billion years, and will continue to emit heat for billions of years into the future because of the ongoing radioactive decay in the Earth’s core. However, most wells that extract the heat will eventually cool, especially if heat is extracted more quickly than it is given time to replenish. Larderello, Italy, site of the world’s first electrical plant supplied by geothermal energy, has seen its steam pressure fall by more than 25% since the 1950s. Re-injecting water can sometimes help a cooling geothermal site last longer. However, this process can cause “micro-earthquakes.” Although most of these are too small to be felt by people or register on a scale of magnitude, sometimes the ground can quake at more threatening levels and cause the geothermal project to shut down, as it did in Basel, Switzerland.

Geothermal systems do not require enormous amounts of freshwater. In binary systems, water is only used as a heating agent, and is not exposed or evaporated . It can be recycled, used for other purposes, or released into the atmosphere as non- toxic steam . However, if the geothermal fluid is not contained and recycled in a pipe, it can absorb harmful substances such as arsenic, boron, and fluoride. These  toxic  substances can be carried to the surface and released when the water evaporates . In addition, if the fluid leaks to other underground water systems, it can contaminate clean sources of drinking water and aquatic  habitats .

Advantages There are many advantages to using geothermal energy either directly or indirectly:

• Geothermal energy is renewable; it is not a fossil fuel that will be eventually used up. The Earth is continuously radiating heat out from its core, and will continue to do so for billions of years.
• Some form of geothermal energy can be accessed and harvested anywhere in the world.
• Using geothermal energy is relatively clean. Most systems only emit water vapor, although some emit very small amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and particulates.
• Geothermal power plants can last for decades and possibly centuries. If a reservoir is managed properly, the amount of extracted energy can be balanced with the rock’s rate of renewing its heat.
• Unlike other renewable energy sources, geothermal systems are “ baseload .” This means they can work in the summer or winter, and are not dependent on changing factors such as the presence of wind or sun. Geothermal power plants produce electricity or heat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The space it takes to build a geothermal facility is much more  compact  than other power plants. To produce a GWh (a gigawatt hour, or one million kilowatts of energy for one hour, an enormous amount of energy), a geothermal plant uses the equivalent of about 1,046 square kilometers (404 square miles) of land. To produce the same GWh,  wind energy  requires 3,458 square kilometers (1,335 square miles), a solar  photovoltaic  center requires 8,384 square kilometers (3,237 square miles), and  coal  plants use about 9,433 square kilometers (3,642 square miles).
• Geothermal energy systems are adaptable to many different conditions.

They can be used to heat, cool, or power individual homes, whole districts, or industrial processes.

Disadvantages Harvesting geothermal energy still poses many challenges:

• The process of injecting high-pressure streams of water into the Earth can result in minor seismic activity, or small earthquakes.
• Geothermal plants have been linked to  subsidence , or the slow sinking of land. This happens as the underground fractures collapse upon themselves. This can lead to damaged pipelines, roadways, buildings, and natural drainage systems.
• Geothermal plants can release small amounts of greenhouse gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.
• Water that flows through underground reservoirs can pick up trace amounts of toxic elements such as arsenic, mercury, and selenium. These harmful substances can be leaked to water sources if the geothermal system is not properly insulated.
• Although the process requires almost no fuel to run, the initial cost of installing geothermal technology is expensive. Developing countries may not have the sophisticated infrastructure or start-up costs to invest in a geothermal power plant. Several facilities in the Philippines, for example, were made possible by investments from American industry and government agencies. Today, the plants are Philippine-owned and operated.

Geothermal Energy and People Geothermal energy exists in different forms all over the Earth (by steam vents, lava, geysers, or simply dry heat), and there are different possibilities for extracting and using this heat. In New Zealand, natural geysers and steam vents heat swimming pools, homes, greenhouses, and prawn farms. New Zealanders also use dry geothermal heat to dry timber and feedstock. Other countries, such as Iceland, have taken advantage of molten rock and magma resources from volcanic activity to provide heat for homes and buildings. In Iceland, almost 90% of the country’s people use geothermal heating resources. Iceland also relies on its natural geysers to melt snow, warm fisheries, and heat greenhouses. The United States generates the most amount of geothermal energy of any other country. Every year, the U.S. generates at least 15 billion kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent of burning about 25 million barrels of oil. Industrial geothermal technologies have been concentrated in the western U.S. In 2012, Nevada had 59 geothermal projects either operational or in development, followed by California with 31 projects, and Oregon with 16 projects. The cost of geothermal energy technology has gone down in the last decade, and is becoming more economically possible for individuals and companies.

Balneotherapy Balneotherapy is the treatment of disease by spa watersusually bathing and drinking. Some famous spas in the United States that offer balneotherapy include Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Warm Springs, Georgia. The most famous balneotheraputic spa in the world, Iceland's Blue Lagoon, is not a natural hot spring. It is a manmade feature where water from a local geothermal power plant is pumped over a lava bed rich in silica and sulfur. These elements react with the warm water to create a bright blue lake with alleged healing properties.

Geothermal Powers

Since 2015 the three countries with the greatest capacity for geothermal energy use have included the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Turkey and Kenya have been steadily building geothermal energy capacity as well.

Ring of Geothermal Geothermal energy sources are often located on plate boundaries, where the Earths crust is constantly interacting with the hot mantle below. The Pacifics so-called Ring of Fire and East Africas Rift Valley are volcanically active areas that hold enormous potential for geothermal power generation.

The Fumaroles There are no geysers at The Geysers, one of the most productive geothermal plants in the world. The California facility sits on fumarolesvents in the Earths crust where steam and other gases (not liquids) escape from the Earths interior.

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Related Resources

Geothermal Energy: What Is It and How Does It Work? Report

Throughout the history of its existence, humankind has been increasingly using energy for the purposes of industrial development of civilizations. Natural resources, such as gas, coal, and oil have so far been the key sources of energy. However, as the aforementioned resources are non-renewable, the issue of using alternative sources of energy has emerged.

Among the many options investigated nowadays by the scientists, geothermal energy occupies not the last place, possessing a number of both advantages and disadvantages that make it a point of debate in the energy-seeking society.

As such, geothermal energy can be defined as the energy of the Earth (in Greek, “geo” means “earth”, and “therme” means “heat”) (California Energy Commission, 2010). Deep underneath the Earth surface, there is a thick layer of magma, liquid rock so hot that at the depth of ten thousand feet its heat would be enough to boil water.

Underground water reservoirs are sometimes situated close enough to the magma layer and warm up to over 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Nowadays people use those natural hot water reservoirs either directly, when hot water springs are located close to the surface, or indirectly, by pumping hot water and steams to the electricity generation power plants or geothermal heat pumps controlling temperature of buildings above ground (California Energy Commission, 2010).

Employing geothermal energy as an alternative to traditional energy sources is attractive due to a number of advantages. For one thing, geothermal energy is characterized by renewability and sustainability (Geothermal Education Office, 2009).

Heat radiation is emitted continuously from within the Earth, and annual precipitation regularly refills the underground reservoirs with huge amounts of water. Therefore, it is possible to sustain the production of geothermal bases for at least centuries on end. For another thing, using the renewable and sustainable geothermal energy allows for considerable saving of exhaustible and polluting resources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear materials.

Environmental impacts are thus lowered by eliminating the necessity for mining, processing and transporting fossil fuels (Geothermal Energy Association, 2010). In addition, using geothermal energy considerably reduces the risks of global warming compared to other energy sources. Geothermal energy plants have been found to emit a sufficiently low amount of the key greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, which makes this type of energy plants an attractive environmentally friendly alternative (Geothermal Energy Association, 2010).

Along with the aforementioned attractive characteristics, the rosy prospects of geothermal energy are marred by a number of disadvantages. Firstly, due to geographical locations, geothermal sources are not universally available and are concentrated mainly along the sites with high volcanic activity.

Secondly, drilling necessary for geothermal development may be seriously hampered by peculiarities of landscape. Thus, for example, there is no question of developing geothermal energy sites in national parks which are, however, full of geysers. Thirdly, due to high concentration of silica in hot-water reservoirs, the pipes used in geothermal industry suffer high rates of corrosion and therefore require costly scaling.

In the modern world struggling to preserve the remaining exhaustible resources and satisfy the ever-growing need for energy by employing alternative sources of energy, geothermal energy appears to be one of the best solutions. Despite certain disadvantageous features like unevenness in location and costliness, geothermal energy possesses valuable characteristics of renewability and sustainability that make it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

California Energy Commission. (2010). Geothermal Energy . Web.

Geothermal Education Office. (2009). Geothermal Energy . Retrieved from http://geothermaleducation.org/

Geothermal Energy Association. (2010). Geothermal Basics . Retrieved from http://www.geo-energy.org/geo_basics.aspx

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What Is Geothermal Energy? Definition, Examples, and How It Works

Learn all about the process of creating electricity from geothermal sources.

• University of Toledo College of Law
• University of Florida
• University of Miami

• University of Tennessee
• Renewable Energy
• Fossil Fuels

How Does Geothermal Energy Work

Cost of geothermal energy.

• Types of Power Plants

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)

• Pros and Cons

Geothermal Energy in Iceland

Geothermal energy is power produced through the conversion of geothermal steam or water to electricity that can be used by consumers. Because this source of electricity doesn’t rely on nonrenewable resources like coal or petroleum, it can continue to provide a more sustainable source of energy into the future.

While there are some negative impacts, the process of harnessing geothermal energy is renewable and results in less environmental degradation than other traditional power sources.

Geothermal Energy Definition

Coming from the heat of the Earth’s core, geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity in geothermal power plants or to heat homes and provide hot water via geothermal heating. This heat can come from hot water that is converted into steam via a flash tank—or in rare cases, directly from geothermal steam.

Regardless of its source, it’s estimated that heat located within the first 33,000 feet, or 6.25 miles, of the Earth’s surface contains 50,000 times more energy than the world’s oil and natural gas supplies, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

To produce electricity from geothermal energy, an area must have three major characteristics: enough fluid, sufficient heat from the Earth’s core, and permeability that enables the fluid to interface with heated rock. Temperatures should be at least 300 degrees Fahrenheit to produce electricity, but need only exceed 68 degrees for use in geothermal heating.

Fluid can be naturally occurring or pumped into a reservoir, and permeability can be created through stimulation—both through a technology known as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

Naturally occurring geothermal reservoirs are areas of the Earth’s crust from which energy can be harnessed and used to produce electricity. These reservoirs occur at various depths throughout the Earth’s crust, can be either vapor- or liquid-dominated, and are formed where magma travels close enough to the surface to heat groundwater located in fractures or porous rocks. Reservoirs that are within one or two miles of the Earth’s surface can then be accessed via drilling. To exploit them, engineers and geologists must first locate them, often by drilling test wells.

First Geothermal Power Plant in the US

The first geothermal wells were drilled in the U.S. in 1921, eventually leading to the construction of the first large-scale geothermal electricity-generating power plant in the same location, The Geysers , in California. The plant, operated by Pacific Gas and Electric, opened its doors in 1960.

The process of capturing geothermal energy involves using geothermal power plants or geothermal heat pumps to extract high-pressure water from the underground. After reaching the surface, the pressure is lowered and the water converts to steam. The steam rotates turbines that are connected to a power generator, thereby creating electricity. Ultimately, cooled steam condenses into water that is pumped underground via injection wells. 

Treehugger / Hilary Allison

Here’s how geothermal energy capture works in greater detail:

1. Heat From the Earth’s Crust Creates Steam

Geothermal energy comes from the steam and high-pressure hot water that exist in the Earth’s crust. To capture the hot water necessary to power geothermal power plants, wells extend as deep as 2 miles under Earth’s surface. Hot water is transported to the surface under high pressure until the pressure is dropped above ground—converting the water into steam.

Under more limited circumstances, steam comes directly out of the ground, rather than first being converted from water, as is the case at The Geysers in California.

2. Steam Rotates Turbine

Once the geothermal water is converted to steam above the Earth’s surface, the steam rotates a turbine. The turning of the turbine creates mechanical energy that can ultimately be converted to useful electricity. The turbine of a geothermal power plant is connected to a geothermal generator so that when it rotates, energy is produced.

Because geothermal steam typically includes high concentrations of corrosive chemicals like chloride, sulfate, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide, turbines must be made of materials that resist corrosion.

3. Generator Produces Electricity

The rotors of a turbine are connected to the rotor shaft of a generator. When the steam turns the turbines, the rotor shaft rotates and the geothermal generator converts the kinetic—or mechanical—energy of the turbine into electrical energy that can be used by consumers.

4. Water Is Injected Back Into the Ground

When the steam used in hydrothermal energy production cools, it condenses back into water. Likewise, there may be leftover water that isn’t converted into steam during energy generation. To improve the efficiency and sustainability of geothermal energy production, excess water is treated and then pumped back into the underground reservoir via deep well injection. 

Depending on the geology of the region, this may take high pressure or none at all, as in the case of The Geysers, where water simply falls down the injection well.   Once there, the water is reheated and may be used again.

Geothermal energy plants require high initial costs, often about $2,500 per installed kilowatt (kW) in the United States. That said, once a geothermal energy plant is complete, operation and maintenance costs are between $0.01 and $0.03 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)—relatively low compared to coal plants, which tend to cost between $0.02 and $0.04 per kWh.

What’s more, geothermal plants can produce energy more than 90% of the time, so the cost of operation can be covered easily, especially if consumer power costs are high.

Types of Geothermal Power Plants

Geothermal power plants are the aboveground and underground components by which geothermal energy is converted to useful energy—or electricity. There are three major types of geothermal plants: 

In a traditional dry steam geothermal power plant, steam travels directly from the underground production well to the aboveground turbine, which turns and generates power with the help of a generator. Water is then returned underground via an injection well.

Notably, The Geysers in northern California and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming are the only two known sources of underground steam in the United States.  

The Geysers, located along the border of Sonoma and Lake County in California, was the first geothermal power plant in the U.S. and covers an area of about 45 square miles. The plant is one of just two dry steam plants in the world, and actually consists of 13 individual plants with a combined generating capacity of 725 megawatts of electricity.

Flash Steam

Flash steam geothermal plants are the most common in operation, and involve extracting high-pressure hot water from underground and converting it to steam in a flash tank. The steam is then used to power generator turbines; cooled steam condenses and is injected via injection wells. Water must be over 360 degrees Fahrenheit for this type of plant to operate.  

Binary Cycle

The third type of geothermal power plant, binary cycle power plants, rely on heat exchangers that transfer the heat from underground water to another fluid, known as the working fluid, thereby turning the working fluid into steam. Working fluid is typically an organic compound like a hydrocarbon or a refrigerant that has a low boiling point. The steam from the heat exchanger fluid is then used to power the generator turbine, as in other geothermal plants.

These plants can operate at a much lower temperature than required by flash steam plants—just 225 degrees to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.

Also referred to as engineered geothermal systems, enhanced geothermal systems make it possible to access energy resources beyond what’s available through traditional geothermal power generation.

EGS extracts heat from the Earth by drilling into bedrock and creating a subsurface system of fractures that can be pumped full of water via injection wells.

With this technology in place, the geographic availability of geothermal energy can be extended beyond the Western United States. In fact, EGS may help the U.S. increase geothermal energy generation to 40 times current levels. This means that EGS technology can provide around 10% of the current electric capacity in the U.S.

• Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons

Geothermal energy has huge potential for creating cleaner, more renewable energy than is available with more traditional sources of power like coal and petroleum. However, as with most forms of alternative energy, there are both pros and cons of geothermal energy that must be acknowledged. 

Some advantages of geothermal energy include:

• Cleaner and more sustainable. Geothermal energy is not only cleaner, but more renewable than traditional sources of energy like coal. This means that electricity can be generated from geothermal reservoirs for longer and with a more limited impact on the environment. 
• Small footprint. Harnessing geothermal energy requires only a small footprint of land, making it easier to find suitable locations for geothermal plants.
• Output is increasing. Continuing innovation in the industry will result in higher output over the next 25 years. In fact, production is likely to increase from 17 billion kWh in 2020 to 49.8 billion kWh in 2050.  

Disadvantages include:

• Initial investment is high. Geothermal power plants require a high initial investment of around $2,500 per installed kW, compared to about $1,600 per kW for wind turbines. That said, the initial cost of a new coal power plant may be as high as $3,500 per kW.
• Can lead to increased seismic activity. Geothermal drilling has been linked to increased earthquake activity, especially when EGS is used to increase energy production.
• Results in air pollution. Due to the corrosive chemicals often found in geothermal water and steam, like hydrogen sulfide, the process of producing geothermal energy can cause air pollution.

A pioneer in the generation of geothermal and hydrothermal energy, Iceland’s first geothermal plants went online in 1970. Iceland’s success with geothermal energy is due in large part to the country’s high number of heat sources, including numerous hot springs and more than 200 volcanoes.  

Geothermal energy currently constitutes about 25% of Iceland’s total production of energy. In fact, alternative energy sources account for almost 100% of the nation’s electricity. Beyond dedicated geothermal plants, Iceland also relies on geothermal heating to help heat homes and domestic water, with geothermal heating servicing about 87% of buildings in the country.  

Some of Iceland’s largest geothermal power plants are:

• Hellisheiði Power Station. The Hellisheiði power plant generates both electricity and hot water for heating in Reykjavik, enabling the plant to use water resources more economically. Located in southwest Iceland, the flash steam plant is the largest combined heat and power plant in the country and one of the largest geothermal power plants in the world, with a capacity of 303 MWe (megawatt electrical) and 133 MWth (megawatt thermal) of hot water. The plant also features a reinjection system for non-condensable gases to help reduce hydrogen sulfide pollution.  
• Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Rift, the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station produces about 120 MW of electrical power and about 293 gallons of hot water (176 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit) per second. Commissioned in 1998, the plant is the second-largest in the country.
• Svartsengi Power Station. With an installed capacity of 75 MW for electricity production and 190 MW for heat, the Svartsengi plant was the first plant in Iceland to combine electricity and heat production. Coming online in 1976, the plant has continued to grow, with expansions in 1999, 2007, and 2015.

To ensure the economic sustainability of geothermal power, Iceland employs an approach called stepwise development. This involves evaluating the conditions of individual geothermal systems in order to minimize the long-term cost of producing energy. Once the first productive wells are drilled, the production of the reservoir is evaluated and future development steps are based on that revenue.

From an environmental standpoint, Iceland has taken steps to reduce the impacts of geothermal energy development through use of environmental impact assessments that evaluate criteria like air quality, drinking water protection, and aquatic life protection when choosing plant locations.

Air pollution concerns related to hydrogen-sulfide emissions have also risen considerably as a result of geothermal energy production. Plants have addressed this by installing gas capture systems and injecting acid gases underground.  

Iceland’s commitment to geothermal energy extends beyond its borders to Eastern Africa, where the country has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to expand access to geothermal energy.

Sitting on top of the Great East African Rift System—and all of the associated tectonic activity—the area is particularly well-suited to geothermal energy. More specifically, the UN agency estimates that the region, which is often subject to serious energy shortages, could produce 20 gigawatts of electricity from geothermal reservoirs.

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National Research Council. Induced Seismicity Potential in Energy Technologies . The National Academies Press. 2013.

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“ Geothermal Electricity Production Basics .” National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

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" How an Enhanced Geothermal System Works ." U.S. Department of Energy .

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“ Construction Costs for Most Power Plant Types Have Fallen in Recent Years .” U.S. Energy Information Agency .

“ Coal-Fired Power Plant Construction Costs .” Synapse Energy Economics .

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“ Geothermal .” Orkustofnun National Energy Authority.

“ The World's Largest Geothermal Heating System Saves up to 4M Tons CO2 Annually .” C40 Cities .

Hallgrímsdóttir, Elin, et al. “ The Geothermal Power Plant at Hellisheiði, Iceland .” GRC Transactions , vol. 36, 2012, pp. 1067-1072.

Ballzus, Claus, et al. “ The Geothermal Power Plant at Nesjavellir, Iceland .” Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2000, pp. 3109-3114.

“ Svartsengi Power Plant. ” HS Orka .

“ Sustainable Utilisation .” Orkustofnun National Energy Authority .

Wanqing, Cheng. “ Environmental Impact of Geothermal Development in the Ísafjardarbaer Area, NW-Iceland .” The United Nations University, reports 2001, no. 2.

Berstad, David, and Lars O. Nord. “ Acid Gas Removal in Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland .” Energy Procedia , vol. 86, 2016, pp. 32-40., doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2016.01.004

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Home — Essay Samples — History — 21St Century — Geothermal Energy as the Solution to the 21st Century Problem of Energy

Geothermal Energy as The Solution to The 21st Century Problem of Energy

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• Essay on Soil

Essay On Geothermal Energy

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Soil , Heat , Actions , Underground , Activity , Energy , Water , Development

Words: 2000

Published: 02/05/2020

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Introduction

Geothermal energy is a source of energy that has become very common as a sustainable energy source in numerous countries across the world. Geothermal energy owes its origin to volcanic activity that occurs in the earth’s core and mantle. Rain water or water form surface runoff may collect in underground reservoirs of water. The volcanic activity below such reservoirs heats the water. The water is normally trapped such that it cannot escape. This leads to build up of a lot of pressure causing it to become superheated. Eventually, the water rises to the surface through fault lines on the rocks.

Practical Applications of Geothermal Energy

Engineers have managed to determine ways of tapping this superheated water through wells. The water is then used to turn steam turbines that in turn help in generating electricity. Numerous countries have set up generating stations and power substations to connect the electricity from the geothermal energy to the national grid. This has helped to boost the national power supply hence leading to an efficient supply to the consumers. Geothermal energy is used to supply heating to industries and even homes. This helps to save on the use of other sources of energy such as coal that result in pollution. Geothermal energy is also crucial in supply of heat in areas that experience extreme cold temperatures. Furthermore, the heat from geothermal energy can be used in greenhouses in supply of the heat necessary for boosting of plant growth under controlled conditions. Geothermal energy is a reliable source of energy especially due to the fact that its supply is constant and consistent. This means that the supply of geothermal energy is not dependent on weather conditions, as is common in hydrogenated power. This makes geothermal energy a reliable source of power due to the use of steam as a prime mover. Geothermal energy has become especially useful since it has reduced the overreliance on oil that has existed for the past few decades. This has helped to reduce the cost of fuel around the world. This was at a time that fossil fuels were overpriced and their reservoirs were almost depleted. The aquifers containing the superheated water may, in some instances, fail to shoot hot water to the surface. However, engineers have developed technologies to access these aquifers especially where tectonic activity has failed to create channels for the hot water. This is famously known as engineered geothermal systems. Geothermal powered plants comprise of heat exchangers that help to tap the heat from geothermal energy. This plays a crucial role in ensuring the whole process is renewable. After being used to turn steam turbines, the hot water or superheated steam is re-injected back to the underground reservoirs. This means that a clear separation has to be made between the working fluid that turns the turbine and the geothermal fluid that flows from the hot water reservoir. Geothermal energy is also used in ground source heat pumps. These are shallow geothermal systems that are used in the provision of heating and cooling to domestic and industrial users. A heat exchange system facilitates the heating of the working fluid flowing in pipes and the hot water stored in rocks underneath. The hot water in the pipes is then used to heat building, especially during the winter season. During the hot season, the heat transfer occurs in the opposite direction. This means that heat is transferred to the underground water since temperatures are very high such that the buildings require cooling. This leads to a continual balance of temperatures at home and work all year round. Ground source heat pumps may either be closed loop or open loop systems. Closed loop ground heat pumps are similar to refrigerators in functionality. This is especially because there are no fluid losses throughout the system. Closed loop systems may use vertical loops or horizontal loops. However, horizontal loops are preferred due to the fact that they are cheaper and their installation is easier as compared to vertical loops. However, engineers have managed to come up with a combination of the two loops in the form of skinny loops. Open loop systems do not use the concept of heat exchange, but instead extract ground or underground water for purposes of heating. There is no reinjection of water and hence no recirculation of water.

How Abundant are Geothermal Sources

For geothermal sources to exist there must be sufficient volcanic activity underneath the earth’s surface to help promote the heating of underground water. However, this is a natural process that cannot be manipulated according to man’s convenience. This is mainly the reason why geothermal sources can only exist where underground hot water reservoirs naturally exist due to radioactivity of volcanic activity acting on aquifers. However, most of the globe that has superheated underground water, or at least a small percentage of it, has been discovered and is being harnessed for geothermal energy. Geologists have access to new technologies that have led to discovery of newer geothermal wells and possible underground reservoirs of superheated water. Areas that are prone to tectonic and volcanic activity are generally believed to harbor such reservoirs. The reservoirs are formed after infiltration and percolation of rain and surface water into underground rock though permeable rocks. Areas with a lot of activity in the core and mantle result in heating of this water beyond its normal boiling point. The water continues to remain in the liquid state due to the high pressure that exists underground. This is why such water is referred to as superheated water. Vents of steam or cracks on the rock structures may cause such water to find its way to the surface hence leading to the availability of geothermal energy for man to harness. All continents, except Antarctica, show considerable geothermal activity. Technologists and engineers have now accessed these geothermal sources to ensure they are well utilized. Some areas have a lot of geothermal activity, but have little flow of water into the ground. Engineers have injected water into such areas and have managed to successfully acquire superheated water in a renewable cycle for various uses. Geothermal sources are mostly located in remote areas that have rather hot climates. However, there may be many other sources that are yet to b e determined and tapped for geothermal energy. Geothermal energy has come to revolutionize the energy sector of the world. This is especially due the reliability that comes with the use of geothermal energy as a source of energy. This has made some countries to opt to use this form of energy as its base source of energy since it operates every day of the week regardless of weather and other extraneous factors. This has helped the world to move from its dependence on coal, oil, natural gas and other non-renewable sources of energy that had become quite a headache. Geothermal energy is also a flexible source of energy such that production can be varied depended on the required output. This is especially crucial when it comes to supporting other renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind energy that are also being taken up slowly. The implementation of geothermal projects and their application in the economies of developed and developing countries has spurred increased economic growth. This is especially in remote or rural area where geothermal plants are normally located. This has also created a lot of employment opportunities at a time when most of the population is elite and technical professionals are readily available. Due to the fact that geothermal plants do not engage combustion, the pollution levels associated with geothermal energy are much lower than if fossil fuels were to be used to turn turbines or to provide heating. Geothermal power production projects are also cheaper, in the long run, than hydrogenated power due to their long life and reduced costs due to renewal of energy.

Environmental Hazards of Geothermal Energy

One of the most common hazards created by geothermal energy is the production of excess heat into the environment (McKinney and Schoch, 2012). The discharge of this heat into the environment creates a scenario referred to as thermal pollution, which results to the killing of plants and animals. Thus, the natural ecosystem is interrupted. Further, during the production of geothermal energy, certain emissions are also discharged. These gas emissions into the environment depend on the characteristics of the steam that normally accompanies the geothermal energy production. According to Tabak (2009), as production of steam comes from the circulation of water in the plant, the movement of the water in the plant results to it absorbing various materials some of which are hazardous to the environment. The emission of steam containing compounds such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide makes the emission of steam to be hazardous to the environment (Tabak, 2009). Leakage of hydrocarbons from the geothermal plants is also another environmental hazard. According to Miller (2010), hydrocarbons released are denser than air. Therefore, vast quantities released into the atmosphere will cause the gases to sink and accumulate near the surface of the earth. This becomes dangerous in the arid regions where fire disasters can easily develop. The construction of a geothermal power plant and the operation involved in the plant for power production generates significant levels of noise. This noise emanates from processes such as drilling, discharge of fluids and maintenance operations (Gupta and Roy, 2007). Additionally, because of the high heat generation, the geothermal power plants require plenty of water for cooling (McKinney and Schoch, 2012). This becomes a challenge since water is a scarce resource. Surface water levels may reduce because of over-abstraction. The high water requirement may generate additional problems if the water for cooling is being abstracted from the ground. For instance, in New Zealand, the Wairakei geothermal project resulted to the extraction of high amounts of water from the ground (Tabak, 2009). Failure to recharge the ground water table artificially resulted to ground subsidence in certain areas, in the same field. Geothermal energy development also destroys the natural geothermal features such as geysers and hot springs (Tabak, 2009). For instance, the Wairakei area in New Zealand had geysers that were depleted due to the geothermal development. Even recharging the underground water level was not sufficient in restoring these geysers. The hot underground water released from the geothermal plant and discharged into the rivers may contain a high level of minerals and dissolved salts. According to McKinney and Schoch (2012), some of the most common pollutants are heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic. The release of these pollutants in the aquifers and other aquatic bodies leads to the death of aquatic life and makes river or lake water unsafe for irrigation and drinking. Certain geothermal projects have the potential of causing the formation of earthquakes (Rastogi, 2010). The use of enhanced geothermal systems has contributed in developing small earthquakes. This is because these systems exploit hot and dry rock formations using high-pressure water that is used to develop fractures in the rocks. The high pressure is responsible for the fracture development, which tends to create micro earthquakes.

Geothermal power development requires careful monitoring. Its use is being encouraged since is it does not result to high environmental degradation compared to other sources of energy such as coal. Efficient monitoring systems need to be used at the geothermal plants to control the emission levels from the geothermal plant. Further, development of new technologies to use in geothermal power development, for instance, the enhanced geothermal systems will result to the increase in power production.

Gupta, H. K., & Roy, S. (2007). Geothermal energy an alternative resource for the 21st century. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Elsevier. McKinney, M. L., & Schoch, R. M. (2012). Environmental science: systems and solutions (5th Ed.). Boston: Jones and Barlett Publishers. Miller, O. (2010). Geothermal Energy: Modern Uses and Environmental Issues. Retrieved from http://www.indiana.edu/~sierra/papers/2010/miller.pdf Rastogi, N. (2010, October 26). The pros and cons of geothermal energy. - Slate Magazine. Politics, Business, Technology, and the Arts - Slate Magazine. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2010/10/could_yellowstone_power_my_home.html Tabak, J. (2009). Solar and geothermal energy. New York: Facts on File.

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For about 4.5 billion years, heat has been radiating from the center of Earth at 6437.4 km deep. The temperatures down there are close to being as hot as the sun’s surface, which equate to 5,500°C. At this moment, around 42 million megawatts are being conducted by Earth’s core. The best news about all this is that this energy is inexhaustible, as the only thing that can make this energy nonrenewable is to destroy planet Earth entirely (“Geothermal Basics”). In turn, we have countless geothermal reservoirs. According to the Geothermal Energy Association, “Rainwater and snowmelt feed underground thermal aquifers. When hot water or steam is trapped in cracks and pores under a layer of impermeable rock, it forms a geothermal reservoir” (“Geothermal Basics”). However, these are natural ways of creating geothermal energy. Humankind has developed ways to extract geothermal energy artificially.

Various geothermal energy plants have been created to sustain a consistent flow of this power source. According to the Geothermal Energy Association, “After careful exploration and analysis, wells are drilled to bring geothermal energy to the surface, where it is converted into electricity” (“Geothermal Basics”). In addition, with “…a geothermal flash power plant, high pressure separates steam from water in a “steam separator” as the water rises and as pressure drops. The steam is delivered to the turbine, and the turbine then powers a generator. The liquid is reinjected into the reservoir” (“Geothermal Basics”). Another type of plant is based on dry steam, where “steam alone is produced directly from the geothermal reservoir and is used to run the turbines that power the generator” (“Geothermal Basics”). Binary plants are a bit more complicated, as they employ “an Organic Rankine Cycle system, which uses geothermal water to heat a second liquid that boils at a lower temperature than water, such as isobutane or pentafluoropropane. A heat exchanger separates the water from the working fluid while transferring the heat energy. When the working fluid vaporizes, the force of the expanding vapor, like steam, turns the turbines that power the generators” (“Geothermal Basics”. And like most other geothermal plants, “The geothermal water is then reinjected in a closed loop, separating it from groundwater sources and lowering emission rates further” (“Geothermal Basics”).

These plants might seem far from our households, however they can be used directly in our homes. Based on information from the website Renewable Energy World, “A geothermal heat pump system consists of a heat pump, an air delivery system (ductwork), and a heat exchanger-a system of pipes buried in the shallow ground near the building. In the winter, the heat pump removes heat from the heat exchanger and pumps it into the indoor air delivery system. In the summer, the process is reversed, and the heat pump moves heat from the indoor air into the heat exchanger” (“Geothermal Energy”). Therefore, we do not have only industrial uses for geothermal energy, but also commonplace applications. For centuries and perhaps thousands of years, people have been employing makeshift and mechanized systems to tap into geothermal energy to heat their homes, cook food, bathe, and other activities.

As we can see, geothermal energy is a powerful tool in the hands of humans. It is a renewable energy that has been radiating for over 4 billion years from the center of Earth. To understand the magnitude at which the core of Earth is burning is difficult, though it is comparable to the temperature of the Sun’s surface. Anyways, though there are many natural forms of geothermal energy (hot springs, geysers, and such), people have found ways to extract power from geothermal energy through the use of various power plants. Besides companies garnering power from these plants, people can employ geothermal pumps close to their homes in order to gain heat and temperature regulation for myriad uses. Geothermal energy is a clean, natural, and dependable source of power we should consider taking advantage more in our current climate crisis.

Works Cited

“Geothermal Basics.” Geothermal Energy Association. geo-energy.org/Basics.aspx.

“Geothermal Energy.” RenewableEnergyWorld.com, www.renewableenergyworld.com/geothermal-energy/tech.html.

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Geothermal Energy: Harnessing the Earth's Heat for Sustainable Power

Geothermal energy is a powerful and sustainable source of renewable energy derived from the Earth's internal heat. It harnesses the natural geothermal gradient, using the Earth's subsurface temperatures to produce electricity and provide heating and cooling for various applications. This essay delves into the utilization of geothermal energy, exploring the mechanisms of geothermal power generation, its benefits, and its potential role in the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

The Earth's core is a hot and molten region, with temperatures reaching several thousand degrees Celsius. This intense heat radiates outward, creating a geothermal gradient, which means that temperatures increase with depth below the Earth's surface. In certain regions, such as near tectonic plate boundaries or volcanic areas, this geothermal gradient is more pronounced, creating ideal conditions for harnessing geothermal energy.

Geothermal power generation typically involves tapping into geothermal reservoirs, which are underground reservoirs of hot water and steam. To access these reservoirs, wells are drilled deep into the Earth's crust. The heat from the geothermal reservoirs is used to produce steam, which drives turbines connected to generators to produce electricity.

There are several types of geothermal power plants, including dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle plants. Dry steam power plants utilize steam directly from the geothermal reservoirs to power turbines. Flash steam power plants use high-pressure hot water from the reservoirs to produce steam that drives turbines. Binary cycle power plants use low-temperature geothermal resources to heat a working fluid, such as isobutane, which then vaporizes and drives turbines.

Geothermal energy offers numerous advantages as a renewable energy source. First and foremost, it is a continuous and reliable source of power, as the Earth's internal heat is essentially inexhaustible. Unlike solar and wind energy, which are intermittent and dependent on weather conditions, geothermal energy is available 24/7, providing a stable and constant power supply.

Moreover, geothermal power plants have a relatively small environmental footprint. Once the geothermal wells are drilled, they have a long lifespan, and the land used for geothermal power generation can often be shared with other activities, such as agriculture or recreation.

Geothermal energy also produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. The use of geothermal energy helps to reduce the reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, geothermal energy has the potential for decentralized power generation. It can be harnessed locally, reducing the need for long-distance transmission of electricity and increasing energy security for remote or isolated communities.

Despite its many benefits, geothermal energy faces challenges and limitations. The availability of suitable geothermal resources is geographically limited, and the cost of drilling and developing geothermal wells can be high. However, advancements in drilling technology and exploration techniques are gradually expanding the reach and accessibility of geothermal energy.

In conclusion, geothermal energy offers a sustainable and reliable source of renewable power, tapping into the Earth's heat to generate electricity and provide heating and cooling for various applications. Its continuous availability, minimal environmental impact, and potential for decentralized power generation make it an attractive option in the transition to a more sustainable energy future. As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, geothermal energy holds promise as a vital component of the diverse and interconnected energy mix needed to meet our energy needs while preserving the planet for future generations.

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Geothermal Energy

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Geothermal energy represents the inner heat of the earth, produced largely by the decay of radioactive elements in the mantle and center. The three ways that the heat is found is both wet and dry steam (wet steam has drops of water in it), hot water and dry volcanic rocks. We know that the temperature of the earth at depths of 25 to 50 km range from 200`C to 1000`C. There are areas of the earth where local concentrations of heat occur, just as mineral concentrations do. Most of these are located along oceanic ridges and continental rifts, such as the ‘Ring of Fire’.

Geothermal energy is not free from environmental problems. The steam contains large amounts of hydrogen sulphide with its smell of rotten eggs, and both steam and hot water contain substantial amounts of dissolved minerals, many of which are poisonous to the aquatic life in the streams and rivers into which they are eventually discharged. Also, the removal of steam or water causes the earth to subside in that region.

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Geothermal energy was first used in the era of the ancient Roman bath house, in which they bathed in hot salt springs. Even though the Romans found an easy way to use geothermal energy, and we still enjoy natural hot springs, the process of removing geothermal energy from the earth to use it efficiently is rather difficult. The only three ways to use geothermal energy is for hot water, space heating and generating electricity.

In order to turn geothermal energy into electricity it must be brought up from the earth within a metal cased borehole that was driven deep into the naturally hot ground and put through a geothermal power station, (see diagram). The high pressure steam for these wells is used to drive turbines to generate 300 million kilowatts of electricity each year. Which if you compare all the power that the world produces from all the geothermal power plants, in 1985, to that of one average nuclear power plant the geothermal power will not yet compare.

Due to the acid gases in the steam delicate machinery was getting damaged. The hot water is corrosive and eating away at the pipes and expensive equipment making it even harder to removing it from the earth. The problem was solved by using the acid steam to heat acid-free water. This provided clean steam that would not damage the machinery. As a bonus, useful by-products were extracted from the acid steam, including boric acid, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

The possibility of tapping the heat energy stored in subsurface rocks is also being considered. The plan is to pump water into such regions by means of deep wells, and then pump the heated water back to the surface. One of the major problems is the poor thermal conductivity of rocks, and it is thus very desirable to have hot rocks that lie at relatively shallow depths.

Booth, Basil. Volcanoes and Earthquakes. East Sussex, Wayland Ltd., 1988

Boyle, Desmond. Energy. Morristown, Macdonald Education Ltd., 1980.

Doty, Roy. Where are you going with that Energy?. Garden City, Doubleday & Company Inc., 1922.

McClory, Paul. Focus on Alternative Energy. East Sussex, Wayland Ltd., 1985.

Siddiqi, Toufiq. World Energy. Artarmon, Holt-Saunders Pty. Ltd., 1976.

Smith, Norman. Energy isn’t easy. Toronto, General Publishing Co. Ltd., 1984.

Thomas, John. The Quest for Fuel. East Sussex, Wayland Ltd., 1978.

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Nuclear energy vs. geothermal energy.

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The future of humanity hinges on the advancement of effective, eco-friendly, and high-yield energy sources. Rather than dwelling on history, it is crucial to explore present and future alternatives. Two prominent choices are nuclear fission (nuclear power), which provides enduring and high-output energy but carries environmental hazards; and geothermal energy, a secure alternative that

Geothermal Energy Abstract

Geothermal Energy Abstract The purpose of this report is to introduce the background of geothermal energy, different types of this energy, several applications and some disadvantages of geothermal energy. The scope and limitation of this report include the international development of geothermal energy and it benefits for human beings, thereby, providing incentive for the implementation

Indonesia’s Politics Towards Geothermal

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In this undertaking I will be looking into the selling of Burn an energy drink, but what is an energy drink and what can they truly do for you.  They beckon from shop shelves and counter tops in a broad scope of colors, forms and sizes: a burgeoning choice of nutrient-enriched drinks whose labels promise

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Best Earth Essay Examples

Geothermal energy.

350 words | 2 page(s)

Geothermal energy refers to heat energy stored in the Earth’s surface and crust, where energy is naturally produced by the Earth’s seismic activity. Hot springs are the most common observable source of this type of energy being produced naturally. Geothermal energy production is the process of capturing this energy, such as using hot springs to power generators, which in turn produces usable electricity (Boyle, 2004).

The main advantage of geothermal energy is that it is naturally produced, does not create much pollution, and theoretically limitless due to constant seismic activity. However, the main challenge with this form of energy is that it tends to be concentrated in areas where there is notable seismic activity, so only limited areas can be used for generator placement (Barbier, 2002). Also under current technologies, the cost of producing a sizable amount of energy from geothermal sources is substantial, so there is a current barrier in regard to geothermal investments. However, in areas where geothermal activity is present, such as in parts of Nevada, Idaho, Montana and other western states, there is considerable opportunity for the investment of geothermal energy sources that could be used to produce electricity (Dickson and Fanelli, 2013).

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Geothermal energy remains a potential source of sustainable energy that the United States could develop, and in doing so, creating more renewable energy sources that would reduce the reliance on the import of energy and fossil fuels from foreign sources. The barriers to this form of energy are a matter of cost, rather than capability; if these costs can be reduced, and technology can be developed that would be able to transport this available power to parts of the country where there is not as much seismic activity, then geothermal energy has significant potential over the long term. The more the United States is able to generate its own energy, the less reliance it has on foreign energy sources.

• Barbier, E. (2002). Geothermal energy technology and current status: an overview. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 6(1), 3-65.
• Boyle, G. (Ed.). (2004). Renewable energy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Dickson, M. H., & Fanelli, M. (2013). Geothermal energy: utilization and technology. Routledge.

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shows how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features , and make comparisons where relevant.

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For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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• geothermal energy
• renewable source
• sustainable
• drilling wells
• hot water and steam
• drive turbines
• generate electricity
• cooling process
• re-injected
• environmental impact
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The plans below show the site of an airport now and how It will look after redevelopment next year. Summarise the Information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Space travel has been possible for some time and some people say that space tourism will be developed in the future. what do you think space travel is positive or negative a development, these days, people work in more than one job, and often change career several times during their life. what are the advantages and disadvantages of this, some companies require their employees to wear uniform. what are the advantages and disadvantages, nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. in what ways has has technology affected the types of relationships people make has this become a positive or negativedevelopment give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. write at least 250 words..

• Leaving Cert. Geography (Higher) 2015: Part Two Q3 A-C
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