GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

By Jenna Surette

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Geothermal energy can only be used in

certain places with certain geologic
conditions.

The production of geothermal energy

involves drilling into the earth about
three to 10 km deep.

The heat is removed in many different

ways, but in most cases its removed
using water and steam.

Hot water from earth can be used to

heat homes and buildings. This is done
by either directly distributing the hot
water through buildings or pumping it
through a heat exchanger that moves
the heat to the building.

Geothermal heat can also be used to

manufacture electricity in geothermal
power plants

WHAT IS THE COST?

According to studies an
economically driven geothermal
power plant can cost as low as
$3400 per kilowatt equipped,
while a new geothermal power
plants cost is higher than the cost
of a equivalent natural gas facility.
Factors that affect the price of
geothermal power plants are:
Size of the power plant
Power plant technology
Knowledge of the resource
Temperature of the resource
Chemistry of geothermal water
Resource depth and permeability

Environmental policies
Tax incentives
Markets
Financing options and costs
Time delays

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF
ENERGY IS PRODUCED?
Geothermal energy is available
24 hours a day 7 days a week,
which avoids problems of
vulnerability associated with
other renewable technologies
like wind and solar
Currently geothermal energy
provides less than 1% of the
U.S. total electricity
Right now 9 states produce
electricity from geothermal
plants, with more than 80% of
total geothermal generation
capacity in California

While the U.S. has about

3000 megawatts of
geothermal electric
generating capacity, the
U.S. Geological Survey
thinks the United States
owns 39000 megawatts of
geothermal potential,
including specified
resources and resources
that are hidden or
unnoticeable at the
surface

WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

Geothermal power plants can

have impacts on both water
quality and intake.
Hot water taken from
underground reservoirs often
contain high level of sulfur, salt,
and other minerals.
Not all water removed from the
reservoir is re-injected because
some is lost as steam. In order to
uphold a continuous volume of
water in the reservoir, outside
water must be used.
The difference between open-and
closed-loop systems is important
with respect to air emissions.

In closed-loop systems,
gases removed from the
well are not exposed to the
atmosphere and are
injectd back into the
ground after giving up
their heat.

In open-loop systems emit

hydrogen sulfide, carbon
dioxide, ammonia,
methane, and boron.
Hydrogen sulfide smells
distinctly of rotten eggs.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT

CONTINUED

Once in the atmosphere, hydrogen

sulfide changes into sulfur dioxide.
This adds to the development of small
acidic particulates that can be
consumed by the bloodstream and
cause heart and lung disease. Sulfur
dioxide also causes acid rain, which
damages crops, forests, and soils, and
acidifies lakes and streams

The amount of land used by geothermal

plants differs depending on the
properties of the resource reservoir,
the amount of power capacity, the type
of energy conservation system, the
type of cooling system, the
arrangement of wells and piping
systems, and the substation and
auxiliary building needs.

Land subsidence, is a
occurrence when the land
surface sinks, its
sometimes caused by the
removal of water from
geothermal reservoirs

WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES?

Cost Saving: Geothermal

energy usually involves
low running costs since it
saves 80% costs over
fossil fuels and no fuel is
used to generate the
power. Since, no fuel is
required, so costs for
buying, moving and
cleaning up plant cost
relatively low
Reduce Reliance on
Fossil Fuels:
Dependency on fossil
fuels decreases with the

No Pollution: Being a renewable

source of energy, geothermal
energy has helped reduce the rates
of global warming and pollution.
Direct Use: Since ancient times,
people having been using this
source of energy for washing, heat,
making food and today it is also
used for direct heating of homes
and offices.
Job Creation and Economic
Benefits: Governments of many
countries are investing hugely in
making of geothermal energy which
on the other hand has created more
jobs

WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVES?

Not An Extensive Source of Energy:

Since this type of energy is not
generally used the inaccessibility of
equipment, substructure, training pose
obstacle to the installation of
geothermal plants across the globe.

High Installation Cost: To get

geothermal energy, compels
installation of power plants, to get
steam deep in the earth it would
require a huge one time investment
and require to hire a licensed installer
and skilled staff is mandatory and
relocated to plant location

Run off Steam: Geothermal plants can

run out of steam after so long due to
decrease in temperature or if to much
water is injected to cool the rocks.

Suited to Particular Regions: It is

only relevant for regions which have
hot rocks below the earth and can
supply steam over a long period of
time

May Release Harmful Gases:

Geothermal sites may hold some
poisonous gases and they can
release deep within the earth,
through holes drilled by workers

Transportation: Geothermal energy

can not be easily moved. Once the
energy is removed, it can only be
used in close by areas.
There is also a fear of toxic
substances getting released into
the atmosphere

RENEWABLE OR NONRENEWABLE?

Geothermal energy is a
renewable energy.
Questions

Answers
1. Yes it is naturally
provided by nature

1. Is the source of energy

naturally provided by
nature?
2. Will source of energy
eventually run out?
3. Is the source of energy
naturally replenished by
nature after its used?

2. No you will not run out

of this energy
3. Yes this source of energy
is naturally replenished
by nature when used

RESOURCES

https://
www.studentenergy.org/
topics/geothermal?gcli
d=COKOpe7J08gCFYoUHwod

3kgLPQ
http
://geo-energy.org/geo_bas
ics_plant_cost.aspx

http://
www.c2es.org/technology/
factsheet/geothermal
http://www.ucsusa.org/cl
ean_energy/our-energy-ch
oices/renewable-energy/e
nvironmental-impacts-geo

http://
www.conserve-energy-fut
ure.com/Advantages_Geot
hermalEnergy.php
http://
www.conserve-energy-fut
ure.com/Disadvantages_G
eothermalEnergy.php
http://www.booneyliving.
com/435/is-geothermal-en
ergy-renewable-or-nonren
ewable
/