5.089

Geothermal power plants are severely underused. For example, it is reported that, “the U.S. generates more geothermal electricity than any other country.” However, the U.S. produces less than one-half of one percent of electricity used in that entire country! Why isn’t geothermal power more popular? Let’s look at what geothermal energy is and its benefit.

While aboveground temperatures change dramatically with air currents, soil temperatures underground, within the upper ten feet of the surface, remain consistent, between 500F. and 600F. As a result, soil temperatures are typically warmer than air temps during winter seasons, and cooler during the summers.

Geothermal heat pumps are a direct use of technology, heating and cooling buildings by transferring heat to and from the ground or water reservoirs into buildings. Geothermal plants generate energy using high-temperature (3000F. to 7000F.) dry steam or hot water resources from geothermal wells drilled one to two miles into the ground. The hydrothermal (steam or hot water) resources are then piped from the reservoirs to the surface for plant use. The difference is environmental impact.

Compared to oil/natural gas/coal/fossil fuel plants, geothermal power plants

expel less than one percent of similar CO2 emissions,

have built-in scrubber systems that eliminate steam and hot water hydrogen sulfide,

emit 97% less acid rain than fossil fuel plants, and

inject used steam and water from a geothermal reservoir back into the soil.

Geothermal energy concerns are environmental, which include, land stability around geothermal power plants and general locations, the injection of used water/steam into hot/dry rock where water is, or has, not been prevalent, and if, in fact, the size of plants will eventually deplete the resource?

Regardless, Iceland’s government estimates that, “Iceland's geothermal energy could provide 1700 MW for over 100 years, compared to the current production of 140 MW.”

So, will geothermal power plants and energy be expanded in the future?



Jason Grace
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany

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