Does geothermal energy work

Answer 1

HOW IT WORKS

1. It comes from energy released by radioactive substances deep within the Earth

2. Heat warms up the Earth's surface

3. Water is pumped down the pipe towards the heated rock

4. The water evaporates and turns into steam

5. The steam goes up another pipe in high pressure which leads to the generator

6. The steam rotates the generator creating electricity

We can build geothermal power stations in volcanic areas or where there are hot rocks deep below the surface. Water gets pumped down to these rocks to produce steam. Then the steam produced drives turbines at ground level.

Random Facts!

¨ Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first geothermal generator on 4 July 1904, at the Larderello dry steam field in Italy

¨ The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California, United States

¨ The Philippines and Iceland are the only countries to generate a significant percentage of their electricity from geothermal sources; in both countries 15-20% of power comes from geothermal plants.

¨ As of 2008, geothermal power supplies less than 1% of the world's energy

¨ The most common type of geothermal power plants (binary plants) are closed cycle operations and release essentially no Greenhouse gas emissions; geothermal power is available 24 hours a day with average availabilities above 90% (compared to about 75% for coal plants)
in some areas the high temperatures within the earth heat up rocks close to the surface. Cold water is pumped into these rocks and the hot water produced can be used for local heating schemes.