Geothermal Energy

Definition

The heat inside the earth in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers is Geothermal Energy. Geothermal energy can be obtained near the earth’s surface or by drilling miles into the earth.

Geothermal energy can be used mainly for three purposes: in district heating systems for heating buildings, in geothermal power plants for generating electricity and in geothermal heat pumps for controlling the temperature of buildings in winter and summer.

Environmental Impact

Geothermal energy has a different impact on the environment depending on how it is used. Heating systems using geothermal energy have almost zero negative impact. Geothermal power plants emit very low levels of carbon dioxide, about 1 to 3 percent emissions. These plants produce 97 percent less acid rain compared to other fossil fuel plants.

Cost of harnessing Geothermal Energy

The initial cost of geothermal energy, for exploration, drilling wells and plant installation, is relatively high compared to fossil fuels. But the cost of operation and maintenance is low. However the geothermal fuel cost is stable unlike non-renewable fuels which will increase as the reserves are exhausted.

Future of geothermal Energy

Energy demand is increasing worldwide. With more commitments made for renewable energy generation, the growth of geothermal energy is expected to increase. The U.S. is the global leader in geothermal energy.

In the U.S., the inventory of accessible geothermal energy with today’s technologies is substantial - about 14,000,000 EJ. The existing mapped reservoirs of geothermal energy in the U.S. can supply 10% of energy needs by 2050. Geothermal power is competitively priced between 4.5 and 7.3 cents per KwH; Wind power today costs 2.5-5 cents per KwH and solar power costs around 30 cents per KwH.

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