What are the Advantages of Geothermal Energy?
The advantages of geothermal energy are many for both consumers and commercial purposes. It is a clean, efficient, long lasting form of energy. Since there are no fuels being burned, it is a constant non-pollutant source of energy that needs no renewing. Geothermal energy is produced by tapping into the natural heat produced by the Earth’s core. It can be used in a home setting through the use of piping buried a few feet underground in conjunction with a heat pump. It can also be used as the source of power for commercial power plants when drilled into the earth’s crust. Cold water is pumped into a tubing system, is heated by the earth’s core, and returns to the surface hot. This water is used to drive a steam turbine and generator. There are several reasons that consumers choose to use geothermal systems in their homes. The utility bills for home energy runs 30-70% cheaper than standard heating and cooling systems. Although the systems can be quite expensive to install, this cost is r
Geothermal energy is renewable, and the energy source itself is currently free. To utilize this energy, however, there are capital and operating costs that must be taken into account. The capital costs are generally somewhat higher than conventional heating systems, but the operating costs are usually much lower. The environmental benefits of geothermal heating systems depend largely on how the electricity to run the pumps is generated; the benefits are greatest if the electricity is generated from a renewable source such as hydro or wind, lowest if the electricity comes from a coal-fired generating station. With renewable electricity, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 75 per cent compared to conventional heating and cooling systems. Some factors to consider in determining the costs and benefits of geothermal energy include: • Climate Heat pumps and thermal energy storage systems provide both heating and cooling, so places with hot summers and large air-conditioning need
What are the disadvantages? • What are the three different types of geothermal plants? How do they use hot water or steam to create electricity? Bibliography The following websites have a lot of good information on geothermal energy: • The Geothermal Education Office. (2008). Retrieved July 7, 2008, from http://www.geothermal.marin.org • Science Clarified. (n.d.). Geyser and hot spring. Retrieved July 7, 2008, from http://www.scienceclarified.com/landforms/Faults-to-Mountains/Geyser-and-Hot-Spring.html The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website has information on the geothermal energy, along with the history of geothermal energy in the United States. • U.S. Department of Energy. (2006, November). Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Geothermal Technologies Program. Retrieved July 7, 2008, from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/geothermal_basics.html Materials and Equipment • Clean metal can with one lid removed, 14.5-ounces; available at any
Well before we answer that question let’s answer this one how does geothermal energy work? Geothermal energy is the process of harnessing the earth’s thermal energy (heat) and converting it into electricity. The Earth has four main layers, as is shown in the picture below. Each layer within the earth has different compositions and temperatures as the picture illustrates. Since heat radiates outwards some of that heat is held by nearby rocks water and earth. In fact up to 40% of the suns rays get absorbed the earth and then release that energy at night. So the way in which geothermal energy works then is simple. Drill deep holes into the earths crust to create a looping grid like pattern and pump cold water through one end of the system. The water traveling through the earth is then heated by the radiation of the surrounding layer of heated earth, water and rock. By the time the water rises back to the surface is can actually be a couple hundred degrees Celsius. This super heated water
