As we look to alternative energy sources
for our power hungry world, geothermal energy is getting attention.
Here is a brief overview of geothermal energy.
There are many different types of energy available to power
our world. For years, people have used the power of burning
fossil fuels, such as coal (also used to produce steam power)
to create energy. In recent times, there has been a shift
to using renewable resources to create the energy we need.
These resources include hydroelectric power, solar power,
wind power, biomass energy and geothermal energy. While many
people know about the first four of these resources, geothermal
energy is less well-known.
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The word geothermal
comes from two Greek words, “geo” and “therme”.
These words mean “earth” and “heat”,
which pretty much describes what geothermal energy is. Geothermal
energy is energy that comes from the heat of the Earth, deep
underground. The Earth's core, where chemical reactions create
massive amounts of heat, is 4,000 miles below the Earth's
surface. In this core, temperatures can reach up to 9,000
degrees Fahrenheit, and this extreme heat can be used to produce
energy.
While these are the basics of geothermal energy, there are
many other parts in the process to make this sort of energy
usable. We can't tap directly into the Earth's core to receive
this heat, for many reasons. So instead, people must create
systems that harness the residual heat that is in the magma
(molten rock) under the Earth's crust. This heat is able to
be used by tapping into the water reservoirs that are within
the magma – these water stores can reach up to 700 degrees
Fahrenheit. Think of Old Faithful in Yellowstone.
A well can be drilled down into the superheated
water contained within the Earth's magma - the geothermal
reservoir. Once these geothermal reservoirs are tapped into,
the heated water and steam can rise to the surface, and be
used to power geothermal power plants as well as in smaller
scale projects for personal household use. When used in geothermal
power plants, the steam from the heated underground water
is often used to power turbines, which then generate energy
which can be harnessed as electricity.
By using the Earth's own heat and water, energy can be created
that can be used on a small or large scale. This renewable
resource (you can't deplete the Earth's heat!) is also cleaner
and safer than many other types of energy, making it a great
type of ecologically sound energy source.
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