Geothermal is derived from the Greek words geo (earth) and thermal (heat). Because heat is constantly produced inside the earth, geothermal energy is a renewable energy source. It’s simply electricity generated by the Earth’s interior heat. Geothermal heat is used for bathing, heating houses, and generating energy
The rock and fluids beneath the Earth’s crust hold this thermal energy. It can be found from the surface to several miles underground and even deeper to the extremely hot molten rock known as magma.
How Does Geothermal Energy Work?
Geothermal energy can be captured in a variety of ways, including:
1 – Geothermal power plants utilize heat from deep below the Earth to generate steam, which is then used to generate electricity.
2 – Geothermal heat pumps, which use heat from beneath the surface of the Earth to heat water or supply heat to buildings.
Why Geothermal Energy is Bad?
There are a number of disadvantages of geothermal energy :
1 – The construction of geothermal plants is expensive.
2 – Sites must be positioned in high-traffic locations, necessitating expensive long-distance transmission.
3 – Water introduction is regarded as wasteful and potentially damaging to the environment.
4 – Sulfur dioxide and silica emissions are frequently a problem.
5 – Drilling into heated rock is a difficult task.
6 – Other than binary geothermal plants, they require a minimum temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius).
What is Geothermal Energy and Examples?
Here are some examples of geothermal energy :
1 – Geothermal Heated Homes
2 – Geothermal Power Plants
3 – Hot Springs
4 – Geothermal Geysers
5 – Green Houses
6 – Fumarole
7 – Spas
What are the 3 Main Uses of Geothermal Energy?
Some geothermal energy uses rely on the earth’s temperatures near the surface, while others necessitate drilling kilometers below the ground. Geothermal energy systems can be divided into three categories :
Direct-use and district-heating systems are two types of heating systems.
Hot water from springs or reservoirs near the earth’s surface is used in direct use and district heating systems. Hot mineral springs were used for bathing, cooking, and heating in ancient Roman, Chinese, and Native American cultures. Numerous people believe the hot, mineral-rich waters have health benefits, and many hot springs are still used for bathing today.
Power plants that use geothermal energy
Water or steam at high temperatures (300° to 700°F) are required for geothermal electricity generation. Geothermal power plants are often built near geothermal reservoirs, about a mile or two below the surface of the earth.
High-temperature hydrothermal resources (300°F to 700°F) are required for geothermal power plants, which can be obtained from either dry steam wells or hot water wells. Drilling wells into the earth and then piping steam or hot water to the surface are how these resources are used.
Heat pumps that use geothermal energy
To heat and cool buildings, geothermal heat pumps employ steady temperatures near the earth’s surface. In the winter, geothermal heat pumps transmit heat from the ground (or water) into buildings, and in the summer, the process is reversed.
Check this out too: https://figabara.com/en/distributed-energy-resources/