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Geothermal

Includes questions related to generating electricity through the use of naturally occuring heat sources.

981 Questions

What is something similar between hydro-power and geothermal energy?

Hydroelectric energy gets energy stored in water, as potential energy, i.e., if it falls down, it can move the turbines, to produce electricity.

Geothermal energy gets electricity from the heat stored in the Earth's interior.

How much electricity does geothermal energy generate?

Geothermal energy currently generates about 17.5 gigawatts worldwide, with the potential to generate much more with further development. The amount of electricity generated depends on factors such as the size and efficiency of the geothermal power plant, as well as the heat resources available.

How can you make electricity using geothermal energy?

The heat from the earth's own molten core can be converted into electricity. This core consists primarily of extremely high temperature liquid rock known as magma. This "geothermal" heat circulates within the rock or is transferred to underground reservoirs of water, which also circulate under the earth's crust. Because of the near limitless ability of the earth to produce magma, and the continuous transfer of heat between subsurface rock and water, geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource.

Geothermal resources have been harnessed as an energy source since the dawn of civilization, when natural hot springs were first used for cooking and bathing. The geothermal resources tapped to generate electricity are far more intense than those used for space heating and can reside as deep as 10,000 feet below the earth's surface. Capital costs for the construction of geothermal power plants are much higher than for large coal-fired plants or new natural gas turbine technologies. But geothermal plants have reasonable operation and maintenance costs and no fuel costs. Though more expensive than wind power in most cases, new geothermal electricity generation facilities are increasingly competitive with fossil options.Geothermal plants can operate around-the-clock, which increases their value from a reliability point-of-view, unlike some intermittent renewable fuels such as solar and wind.

Geothermal electricity generation technologies consist of either "flash" technology or "binary" technology. With flash technology, water from 300 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, but still in liquid form, is piped from its highly pressurized underground reservoir into a geothermal facility. Once this super-heated water is released, it flashes into steam that then drives a conventional turbine generator. With binary technology, underground reservoir waters of lower temperatures are used for flashing. Heat from geothermal water is transferred to a second (binary) liquid, which flashes into vapor upon heating, and that vapor is used to drive turbines. (With dry steam technologies - a much rarer fuel source but the one used in the world's largest geothermal power plant at The Geysers in northern California -- highly pressurized geothermal vapor is used directly to drive a turbine.)

Where is the rate of geothermal heat flow the greatest?

The rate of geothermal heat flow is generally greatest in regions with high levels of tectonic activity, such as along the boundaries of tectonic plates or in volcanic regions. This is because the movement of the Earth's crust in these areas facilitates the transfer of heat from the Earth's interior to the surface.

What country leads in geothermal energy?

The United States leads in geothermal energy production, specifically in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Iceland also has a high percentage of its energy coming from geothermal sources, with geothermal plants providing a significant portion of the country's electricity and heat.

Has Geothermal Energy been a failure or success?

Highly successful mainly because of the efficiency and cost to operate. You don't want to install GeoThermal if you plan to be in the home less than 10 years - it takes about that amount of time (minimally) to recover the additional costs you spent up front.

How is energy created using geothermal?

As suggested by the name - geothermal energy uses thermal energy from the earth (geo). As you get well below the surface of the earth, the temperatures go up quite a bit. In some cases there are fissures that allow fluids to seep down into the hotter areas beneath the surface where they become very hot and may eventually be ejected back to the surface in the form of geysers or hot springs. Geothermal energy uses the earth as the heat source to heat up liquids for turbines instead of using gas flames or burning coal or nuclear reactions to heat it up.

Geothermal energy can also be used simply to heat things up - you can run hot water from the earth through a radiator instead of getting from a boiler in the basement of a building.

Note that you aren't really "creating" energy - you are just changing the form of the energy.

What is organic matter that has recently died and may be used to generate electricity called?

Organic matter that has recently died and may be used to generate electricity is called biomass. Biomass can include plant material, animal waste, and other organic materials that are burned or converted into biogas to produce energy.

Is geo thermal heating the greenest way to heat and cool a house?

Geothermal heating is considered one of the greenest ways to heat and cool a house because it utilizes the constant temperature of the Earth to provide heating and cooling, which is a renewable and sustainable energy source. It is energy-efficient, has low operating costs, and produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional heating and cooling systems. However, the installation costs can be high, and it may not be feasible for all locations.

Can geothermal be used in your locality?

Yes, geothermal energy can be used in most localities as long as suitable geological conditions are present. Geothermal power plants can tap into natural heat sources underground to generate electricity or provide heating for buildings. It is a renewable energy source that can reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

What would have to happen if geothermal steam was to be considered a renewable resource?

In order for geothermal steam to be considered a renewable resource, the rate of extraction must not exceed the rate of natural replenishment. This would require careful monitoring of the geothermal reservoir to ensure sustainable use. Additionally, the environmental impacts of geothermal energy extraction would need to be minimized to maintain its renewable status.

Which Nordic nation uses geothermal energy for heat and electricity?

Iceland is the Nordic nation that uses geothermal energy for heat and electricity. This is due to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, providing abundant geothermal resources for harnessing energy. Iceland's geothermal power plants supply a significant portion of the nation's electricity and heat needs.

How does a geothermal power plant get energy?

A geothermal power plant harnesses energy from the Earth's heat stored beneath the surface. The plant uses this heat to generate steam by pumping water into underground reservoirs, which drives turbines to produce electricity.

What natural resources does geothermal energy take advantage of?

Geothermal energy takes advantage of heat stored beneath the Earth's surface in the form of hot water and steam. This heat is generated from the natural radioactive decay of minerals deep within the Earth, and can be harnessed to generate electricity or for direct use in heating applications.

How can geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity?

let the geothernal energy to boil the water, then use the stream to generate the electricity. it is the same way when you use coal generate the electricity. but the detail system is very complicated.

How does geothermal energy effect geysers?

Geothermal energy is the heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. Geysers are hot springs that erupt hot water and steam due to geothermal energy. The presence of geothermal energy is essential for the formation and activity of geysers.

What is geothermal energy and why is CA able to use geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is heat from the Earth's core that can be harnessed for power generation. California is able to use geothermal energy because it sits on the Ring of Fire, a geologically active region with high levels of geothermal heat that can be tapped for electricity production. Additionally, California's stringent environmental goals and policies make it a favorable location for clean energy sources like geothermal.

Why are only some countries using geothermal?

Only nations that are in volcanic areas are good candidates for geothermal power. So, The USA (in California) has geothermal power, and Japan. But the world leader for geothermal energy is a little frozen island with a fantastic mix of volcanoes and glaciers; Iceland!

Is geothermal energy good for your environment?

Geothermal energy is considered environmentally friendly because it produces low emissions and has a minimal impact on the environment compared to fossil fuels. It is a renewable energy source that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on non-renewable resources. However, there are some environmental concerns related to geothermal energy, such as the potential for induced seismic activity and the disposal of brine and other byproducts.

Is geothermal energy sun?

Geothermal energy comes from heat stored beneath Earth's surface, not from the sun. This energy is produced by harnessing heat from the Earth's interior, typically through the use of geothermal power plants that tap into underground reservoirs of hot water or steam. It is a renewable energy source that can be used to generate electricity and provide heating for homes and buildings.

Can geothermal energy be used for transportation and how?

Sure. All you have to do is to change it into a form that you can store,

and then use it to operate a car, a ship, a bicycle, or a train.

Here are a few methods that I can think of. I don't know for a fact whether

any of these are actually used:

Use geothermal to boil water ==> generate electricity ==> charge batteries ==>

run cars, trucks and bicycles with the batteries.

Use geothermal to boil water ==> generate electricity ==> separate water into

H2 and O2 ==> run a motor to compress the H2 ==> burn H2 to run cars and

trucks.

Use geothermal to grow plants ==> produce food ==> feed the food to people ==>

people use the food energy to pedal bicycles and to carry packages from place to place.

Here are some methods that don't work:

Use geothermal energy to produce - gasoline

- wind

- solar energy

- tidal energy.

Where does the water used to make steam in a power plant come from?

It is initially just normal mains water, but then it is purified by a demineralisation plant, so that water turning to steam does not leave deposits in the steam raising units or in the reactor in the case of a BWR. The steam is condensed to water after going through the turbine, and then recirculates, so the water makeup only has to replace loses due to leakage.

How do you turn geothermal energy into energy we can use?

Geothermal energy is converted into usable energy by drilling wells to access hot water or steam below the Earth's surface. This hot water or steam is brought to the surface and used to drive turbines connected to generators that produce electricity. The electricity generated is then distributed through a power grid for use by consumers.

Where in India the geothermal energy used?

Geothermal energy is used in India primarily in some regions of the Himalayas, such as Ladakh and Puga Valley. Additionally, states like Gujarat and Chhattisgarh also have geothermal potential that can be harnessed for energy production.

Does geothermal energy generate waste?

Geothermal energy does not produce any greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution. However, the process of extracting geothermal energy can produce some waste in the form of brine or other fluids that need to be properly managed and disposed of to prevent environmental harm.