{"id":44853,"date":"2016-02-11T22:05:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-12T03:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=44853"},"modified":"2016-03-02T06:05:05","modified_gmt":"2016-03-02T11:05:05","slug":"geothermal-energy-advantages-and-disadvantages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/geothermal-energy-advantages-and-disadvantages\/","title":{"rendered":"Geothermal Energy Advantages And Disadvantages"},"content":{"rendered":"

To understand geothermal energy, imagine having a fireplace nearby, one which never goes out. The fire we speak of exists at the core of our planet. But let’s look at geothermal energy advantages and disadvantages and more geothermal energy basics for a deeper dive.<\/p>\n

Earth’s Geothermal Energy Basics<\/h3>\n

The temperature at Earth\u2019s core measures close to 7200 degrees Fahrenheit. As you might imagine, such a high temperature can produce extraordinary amounts of sustainable energy\u00a0and\u00a0untold gigawatts of electricity. Technically speaking, geothermal energy is regarded as a renewable source of energy which can produce energy for as long as our planet exists.<\/p>\n

According to the Geothermal Energy Association\u00a0(GEA)<\/a>, the geothermal power industry reached about 3,442 MW at the end of 2013. Add to this about 1,000 MW of planned capacity additions under development and about 3,100 MW of geothermal energy resources under development.\u00a0The industry\u2019s US additions in 2013 added about 85 MW of new capacity at new and refurbished power plants in Utah, Nevada, California, and New Mexico.<\/p>\n

The GEA’s 2014 Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report<\/em><\/a>\u00a0states, “The international geothermal power market is booming, growing at a sustained rate of 4% to 5%. Almost 700 geothermal projects are under development in 76 countries. Many countries anticipating the threats caused by climate change realize the values of geothermal power as a baseload and sometimes flexible source of renewable energy.”<\/p>\n

Upper estimates show a remarkable worldwide geothermal energy potential of 2 terawatts (TW), though — much more than we are on track to tap.Then why aren’t we producing such energy? Let’s\u00a0take a closer look at some of the advantages\u00a0and disadvantages\u00a0when it comes to producing geothermal energy for home, business, or city.<\/p>\n

\"geothermal<\/a>
Geothermal plant near Viti crater in Krafla, North Iceland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

Using geothermal energy is not a new practice. Writing for Kids Discover<\/a><\/em>, Robin Koontz describes how our ancient ancestors knew about the earth\u2019s heat and used it to heat dwellings, cook food, and bathe.<\/p>\n

Today, there are two ways in which geothermal energy can be used.<\/p>\n

First, heat from the Earth\u2019s surface can be used with geothermal heat pump systems. An air delivery system using ducts, along with a heat exchanger buried in the ground, can pump heat into a home or building. The heat pump can also work in the summer, removing heat from inside the building into the heat exchanger. That hot air can also be used to provide hot water.<\/p>\n

Secondly, there is the option of \u00a0electricity, writes Koontz.<\/p>\n

“Electricity-generating power plants convert hydrothermal fluids to electricity, depending on the state of the fluid and its temperature, in three ways \u2013 dry steam, flash steam, or binary cycle. Dry steam systems extract steam out of fractures in the ground, harvesting hot water and steam that can drive turbines on electricity generators.”<\/em><\/p>\n

No matter how good all of this might sound, a number of advantages\u00a0and disadvantages\u00a0come into play when considering the development of geothermal energy plants. I have provided the following ‘advantages\/disadvantages’ compilation, using information from energyinformative<\/a><\/em>, TriplePundit<\/a><\/em>, and ConserveEnergyFuture<\/a><\/em>. There are plenty of pro\/con lists to choose from, but I chose these.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2192 Also recommended:\u00a0Geothermal Energy: What It is & How It Works<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2192 Also recommended:\u00a0Geothermal Energy Facts<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Geothermal Energy Advantages<\/h3>\n