Geothermal energy is heat in the form of steam and hot water produced inside the earth. It can be used directly to heat buildings or indirectly to generate electricity.
Geothermal energy is generated in the earth's core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Temperatures hotter than the sun's surface are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, which is a process that happens in all rocks. Around the world use geothermal power is used to heat homes and to produce electricity. This is achieved by digging deep wells and pumping the heated underground water or steam to the surface.
Most geothermal reservoirs are deep underground with no visible clues as to where they may be located, although geothermal energy is sometimes discernible on the surface in the form of volcanoes and fumaroles (holes where volcanic gases are released), hot springs and geysers.
There are many advantages of geothermal energy. It is clean: geothermal power-plants do not have to burn fuels to manufacture steam to turn turbines, thus helping to conserve and decrease the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, which in turn reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, geothermal power-plants use less land per megawatt than for almost every other type of power plant, and do not damage the environment through dams or mining.
Geothermal power-plants are reliable and can be run 24 hours a day, all year. Because a geothermal power plant sits right on top of its fuel source, there are few interruptions of power generation due to weather, natural disasters or transportation issues, and therefore are ideal for developing countries.
Geothermal energy is generated in the earth's core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Temperatures hotter than the sun's surface are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, which is a process that happens in all rocks. Around the world use geothermal power is used to heat homes and to produce electricity. This is achieved by digging deep wells and pumping the heated underground water or steam to the surface.
Most geothermal reservoirs are deep underground with no visible clues as to where they may be located, although geothermal energy is sometimes discernible on the surface in the form of volcanoes and fumaroles (holes where volcanic gases are released), hot springs and geysers.
There are many advantages of geothermal energy. It is clean: geothermal power-plants do not have to burn fuels to manufacture steam to turn turbines, thus helping to conserve and decrease the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, which in turn reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, geothermal power-plants use less land per megawatt than for almost every other type of power plant, and do not damage the environment through dams or mining.
Geothermal power-plants are reliable and can be run 24 hours a day, all year. Because a geothermal power plant sits right on top of its fuel source, there are few interruptions of power generation due to weather, natural disasters or transportation issues, and therefore are ideal for developing countries.