Benefits of Geothermal Renewable Energy

Geothermal renewable energy is a type of renewable energy that can be used to heat and cool buildings. This type of energy can also absorb harmful substances like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. This renewable source of energy is extremely beneficial for the environment.

Listed below are some benefits of geothermal renewable energy. Read on to learn more about this type of renewable energy. If you're considering installing geothermal energy in your building, you'll discover that it is a great choice for many reasons.

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source

People have used geothermal energy for a long time. Native Americans first gathered around hot springs 10,000 years ago. In the third century BCE, scholars and leaders from central China warmed themselves by bathing in these natural springs.

By the mid-fourth century, Roman conquerors were building elaborate steam rooms and pools at hot springs throughout the world. Today, geothermal energy is used in over twenty countries to produce electricity.

In geothermal power plants, hot water or steam is extracted from deep underground. This steam is then used to drive turbines to generate electricity. There are two types of geothermal power plants: binary and flash steam power plants. Binary plants use hot water passed through a secondary fluid that has a lower boiling point than water.

The vapor is then used to drive a turbine. The geothermal power plants of the future are expected to operate using flash steam or binary cycle technologies.

Despite initial high costs, geothermal power plants are an excellent source of baseload power. They generate electricity and heat twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Furthermore, geothermal power plants are baseload, which means they generate power day and night and don't depend on weather, temperature, or the availability of fuel. The cost of electricity produced by geothermal power plants is predictable, unlike other types of power production.

Although the technology for deep geothermal energy is still evolving, the potential for its use in the future is considerable. As a result, geothermal energy has many applications and uses.

Depending on the temperature and intensity of the source, geothermal heat can be used to heat water, run fisheries, dry cement, and produce hydrogen. Even cooking and drying fruit using geothermal energy has its benefits.

How Geothermal Energy Works

Geothermal energy is a renewable and sustainable source of power that harnesses the heat stored within the Earth's crust. This heat originates from the radioactive decay of elements and the primordial heat left over from the Earth's formation. The process of tapping into geothermal energy involves accessing and utilizing this heat to generate electricity and provide heating and cooling for various applications. Here's how geothermal energy works:

Heat Source

The Earth's interior heat is most accessible in regions with high geological activity, such as volcanic areas or areas near tectonic plate boundaries. The Earth's crust contains hot water and steam reservoirs, which can be exploited to generate energy.

Drilling

To access the geothermal energy, wells are drilled deep into the Earth's crust, typically ranging from hundreds to thousands of feet deep. These wells tap into the geothermal reservoirs, where temperatures can range from a few hundred to over a thousand degrees Fahrenheit.

Geothermal Reservoirs

These reservoirs are made up of porous and permeable rock formations, often containing hot water and steam. There are two main types of geothermal reservoirs: hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

• Hydrothermal Reservoirs: These reservoirs already contain hot water and steam, making them naturally suitable for energy extraction. The steam can be directly used to drive turbines and generate electricity, while the hot water can be used for heating purposes.
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): In locations where natural hydrothermal reservoirs are not present, EGS can be created by injecting water into hot, dry rock formations deep underground. As the water circulates through the hot rocks, it gets heated and can be extracted as steam or hot water for electricity generation.

Power Generation

Once the hot water or steam is brought to the surface, it is used to power a geothermal power plant. There are several types of power plants used to convert geothermal energy into electricity:

• Dry Steam Plants: These plants use steam directly from the reservoirs to turn turbines, which drive generators to produce electricity.
• Flash Steam Plants: High-pressure hot water is brought to the surface and then allowed to rapidly expand (or “flash”) into steam, which is then used to drive turbines.
• Binary Cycle Power Plants: Lower temperature geothermal resources can still be utilized using binary cycle plants. In these systems, the hot geothermal fluid heats a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point (such as isobutane or pentane), which then vaporizes and drives turbines.

Electricity Distribution

The mechanical energy produced by the turbines is converted into electricity through generators. The generated electricity is then transmitted through power lines to homes, businesses, and other consumers.

Direct Use Applications

Apart from electricity generation, geothermal energy can also be directly used for heating applications. Hot water from geothermal reservoirs can be circulated through buildings for space heating, district heating, and even industrial processes like greenhouse cultivation and spa bathing.

Geothermal Energy can be used to heat and cool buildings

The technology behind geothermal heat pumps uses steady temperatures underground to provide heat and cooling for buildings. It is highly efficient and can meet the demands of buildings up to eight stories tall.

The Beowawe Geothermal Facility, located in California, uses an organic compound called tetrafluoroethane to generate electricity and heat.

The compound has a lower boiling point than water and can be converted to gas for use in industrial applications. The gas is then burned to drive turbines and electric generators.

When used for heating and cooling, geothermal energy is an effective way to warm a home or building during cold weather. The circulating fluid in underground pipes transfers heat from the ground to the building. During summer, the same process occurs in reverse.

This method is effective both for heating and cooling buildings and can help reduce energy bills for businesses and homeowners. To operate geothermal heat pumps, the building must have a temperature that is at least seventy degrees Fahrenheit below the ground.

Geothermal renewable energy can be used to power homes, businesses, and industries. It is also renewable, with one sixth the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a conventional natural gas power plant.

Geothermal power plants have the potential to generate up to 308 million megawatts of electricity annually, according to the Geothermal Energy Association. The energy generated from geothermal heat pumps can meet the needs of a typical U.S. household and save hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

The heat from the Earth is a powerful source of heat for homes and businesses. The warmth produced by geothermal power plants can be used for cooking, bathing, and space heating.

Additionally, geothermal power plants can generate electricity. And, in the long run, geothermal energy can even be used to provide electrical power. Geothermal power plants are the most effective alternative to fossil-fuel-fueled electricity.

It can absorb harmful substances

Hydrogen sulfide, a chemical that contributes to acid rain, is a common and damaging gas that is found in the atmosphere. This gas damages the ecosystem of rivers and lakes and is known to cause lung and heart diseases.

It also contaminates the water supply, affecting crops, forests, and soils. The process of geothermal energy also releases pollutants that can harm aquatic life. However, these emissions are low, compared to those of coal plants, which are the nation's biggest source of SO2.

Although geothermal energy is the cleanest renewable energy, there are a number of potential environmental problems associated with its use.

For example, drilling industrial boreholes may result in artificial seismic activity and earth failure, while extracting geothermal water may release gas. Regardless of whether or not geothermal power plants are developed, it is important to keep in mind that their development depends on technological advancement and scientific understanding of geological processes.

In the meantime, the future of geothermal renewable energy will depend on how we deal with environmental concerns.

Moreover, geothermal power plants are more cost-efficient than conventional power plants. It requires less maintenance and produces electricity at a rate of about five cents per kilowatt hour, compared to three to four cents per kWh produced by new coal or natural gas plants.

The high cost of drilling wells may discourage some people from opting for geothermal energy, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Although geothermal resources are abundant, not all of them are easy to use. In Hawaii and the western states, geothermal energy is available in hydrothermal regions. However, geothermal energy is more accessible in other regions, such as on the ground, and can be used almost anywhere, including homes and businesses.

It is the only renewable resource that can provide always-on baseload power. In 2016, geothermal power plants were installed in 22 countries and produced about 76 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. In the United States, the direct use of geothermal reservoirs provided thermal energy to an additional five countries.

It is environmentally friendly

One of the biggest challenges to renewable energy production is the environmental impact of fossil fuel use. Burning fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, which causes global warming.

In order to prevent this problem from occurring, governments worldwide are trying to reduce CO2 emissions, and renewable energy sources are presenting themselves as environmentally friendly options. These green alternatives to fossil fuels may seem unlikely at first glance, but it's important to consider the environmental impact of their products before making a decision.

Another advantage to geothermal energy production is its low emissions. Geothermal plants produce very little emissions, as they don't use fuel or transport it to the source.

Moreover, geothermal plants have a low impact on the landscape, making them an excellent source of clean energy for both heating and cooling. What's more, geothermal energy produces more jobs than any other green source.

Nevertheless, it is important to know that there are some risks associated with geothermal energy.

In addition, geothermal systems have a low life cycle land requirement, and they are also a baseload. This means that they can provide electricity and heat no matter what time of day it is. Unlike wind, solar, and hydroelectric plants, geothermal power plants can operate around the clock.

In addition, they are less intrusive to the environment than water wells. Moreover, geothermal power plants are also suitable for use in remote regions, as they produce energy at lower temperatures than the rest of the renewable resources.

Another benefit of geothermal systems is that they don't require huge amounts of freshwater. While the fluid used in binary geothermal systems is not exposed to air, it is not evaporated and can be recycled. Additionally, geothermal fluids can be recycled or used for other purposes.

If the geothermal fluid is not sterile, it can absorb harmful substances and leach into underground water systems, contaminating aquatic habitats and drinking water sources.

It is a relatively new source of energy

Compared to wind and solar, geothermal renewable energy is a relatively new technology. It works by gathering rising steam from deep within the earth. This hot water vapor is then funneled into a turbine to drive an electrical generator.

There are two kinds of geothermal power plants: flash steam and binary cycle power plants. Both use a mixture of steam and heated water to create electricity.

The up-front cost of building a geothermal power plant can be high. However, the Federal government offers tax credits for the development of geothermal power plants. These tax credits can help offset some of these expenses.

A geothermal power plant can cost anywhere from $2 million to $7 million. The costs of installing a geothermal power plant can pay for itself over a number of years if it is used properly.

The Earth emits a constant flow of heat from its molten core, which is more than 4,000 miles below the surface. This heat is naturally replenished by radioactive decay in the core of the earth. The heat emitted from the core is about 30 terawatts per hour, and it's expected to continue for billions of years.

Conclusion

As we navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world, the search for sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy solutions becomes paramount. Geothermal renewable energy emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond conventional energy sources. From its rich history dating back to ancient civilizations to its present-day applications in power generation and heating, geothermal energy has proven its prowess as a renewable energy source with immense potential.

The process of harnessing geothermal energy, rooted in the Earth's inherent heat, showcases the marvels of science and engineering. Through advanced drilling techniques and innovative power plant designs, we have unlocked the ability to generate electricity and provide heating and cooling by tapping into the Earth's natural heat reservoirs. This process is not only environmentally friendly but also economically viable, promising stable energy production regardless of weather conditions or fuel availability.

Sources:

https://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/basics-geothermal-energy

https://www.energizeohio.org/articles/benefits-and-risks-of-geothermal-energy

http://www.solardirect.com/blog/the-benefits-of-geothermal-energy/

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Advantages_Disadvantages_Geothermal_Energy.php