Geothermal

The father of geothermal energy is Piero Ginori Conti, an Italian scientist who first used geothermal energy to generate electricity in 1904. He successfully created the world's first geothermal power plant in Larderello, Italy.

Canada has significant geothermal potential mainly in western provinces like British Columbia and Alberta, but so far it has not been widely developed due to high upfront costs, technical challenges, and competition with other well-established energy sources like hydroelectricity and natural gas. However, some projects are being explored, and with advancements in technology and increasing focus on renewable energy, geothermal energy may play a larger role in Canada's energy mix in the future.

Geothermal energy can only be exploited where the geology causes the right conditions, a source of heat near the earth's surface that is stable and allows a power plant to be built. An active volcano wouldn't be any use as the plant would probably be wrecked after a short time. Once the electricity is generated it can be sent to the nearest substation.

Volcanic activity can create geothermal energy resources by heating underground water reservoirs. This hot water or steam can be harnessed to generate electricity. However, not all geothermal energy sources are associated with volcanic activity, as heat from the Earth's interior can also be tapped in non-volcanic regions.

The term for organic matter that contains stored energy is biomass. Biomass can be used as a source of renewable energy through processes such as combustion or fermentation.

Geothermal energy is possible where there is hot magma near the Earth's surface, which heats underground water to create steam. This steam can then be harnessed to generate electricity through geothermal power plants.

When underground water is heated by geothermal energy, it can rise to the surface as hot water or steam, which can be harnessed for power generation or direct heating purposes. This process results in geothermal power plants being able to produce electricity in a sustainable and renewable manner.

If you are asking about generating electricity, the first step is extracting steam from a geothermal reservoir. Once the steam is out of the ground and in pipes, the process is fairly similar for a geothermal power plant versus other types of boiler run power plants.

If this is for a smaller project at a building for a geothermal heat pump, the first step would be still providing a way to move heat to and from the earth. This would involving digging several feet into the earth, and putting in piping to allow heat transfer to occur.

Note that in both cases, energy is not being created, but simply extracted from an area of higher energy.

Geothermal energy is good because it is renewable and sustainable, producing minimal greenhouse gas emissions. It provides a reliable source of power that is not dependent on weather conditions like solar or wind energy. Additionally, geothermal power plants have a small land footprint and can help to create local jobs in regions with geothermal resources.

The main limitations of geothermal energy include the high upfront costs of exploration and drilling, the limited availability of suitable geothermal sites, and the potential for reservoir depletion or cooling over time. Additionally, there are environmental concerns related to the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants during geothermal operations.

Two advantages of geothermal energy are its renewable nature, as it is derived from heat stored beneath the Earth's surface which is constantly replenished, and its low greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, making it a cleaner energy source. Additionally, geothermal energy provides a steady and reliable source of power, as it is not dependent on external factors like weather or sunlight.

One potential hidden cost of using geothermal energy is the need for upfront investments in drilling and installation. In some cases, additional maintenance costs may arise due to system wear and tear over time. It's important to also consider the potential costs associated with integrating geothermal systems into existing buildings or infrastructure.

1. Geothermal energy can be used for generating electricity by harnessing heat from the Earth's interior to drive turbines connected to generators.
2. Geothermal energy can also be used for direct heating applications, such as heating buildings, greenhouses, and spas, by tapping into the natural heat stored underground.

Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth's core, stored in rocks and fluids beneath the surface. This heat is harnessed to generate electricity through geothermal power plants or used directly for heating purposes in homes and businesses. Geothermal energy is considered a sustainable and renewable source of power with low carbon emissions.

Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the Earth's core to produce electricity. This heat is trapped underground in the form of hot water and steam, which is then brought to the surface through wells to power turbines connected to generators. This renewable energy source is considered sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to traditional fossil fuels.

With the arrival of a power plant, the heat and fluid extracted from geothermal sources can deplete the efficiency and volume of geysers and surface hot springs.

water released from geothermal cooling towers may contain dissolved toxic compounds and substances such as boron, arsenic and mercury.

The chance of earthquakes is increased when power plants inject water below Earth's surface in order to keep the pressure of the steam up

The cost to build a geothermal power plant can vary depending on factors such as location, size, and technology used. Generally, the estimated cost for a medium-sized geothermal power plant is around $2-7 million per megawatt. However, these costs can be significantly higher for larger or more complex projects.

Geothermal has wide spread applications on all levels, from National and regional installations to public and commercial buildings right to private home owner applications. The key benefit is that it takes natural heat and cool energy stored in the earth and cycles it through modern heat pump technology to produce a never ending source of energy with little impact on the environment. For the private home owner, it can mean also mean a substancial savings within several years of installation. Based on the rising prices of fuels around the world, geothermal energy is a consistent and reliable alternative energy source that should be given serious government and industry recognition.

The formation of the earth included accretion, which saw the gases, dust and bits of rock and other materials superheated as they were compressed under the influence of gravity. The planet began life as a molten ball.

If we include the idea that a very large object slammed into earth to create the moon, that would have doubtless added enough thermal energy to liquefy all the material of the earth. Additionally, it would then would have had to cool down again to form a solid crust.

We should also speak to the idea that radioactive materials compressed in the core of the earth did and continue to decay, and they created (and still create) thermal energy as a result of the decay process. therefore, Geothermal energy comes from thermal energy from earth's core

Geothermal energy can be used for generating electricity through geothermal power plants, heating buildings directly through geothermal heat pumps, providing hot water for industrial processes, and even for greenhouse heating and aquaculture. It is a renewable and reliable energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease reliance on fossil fuels.

The cost of geothermal power is highly variable and dependent on such factors as rock formation geology (e.g. depth, temperature, water chemistry), site accessibility, cost of capital, local weather conditions (which affect the thermodynamic efficiency of the plant), permitting, land ownership (public v. private), transmission (getting the electricity into the grid), etc. The cost of building a new geothermal power plant is roughly $2.5m to $4.5m per MW installed capacity. The price of geothermal power when purchased through a power purchase agreement (PPA) currently ranges from roughly $85 to $110 per MWh, often with an escalator (e.g. 1% or 2% per year). The price increase passed on to the rate payer depends on the current energy portfolio of each utility company. Will geothermal replace fossil-fired (e.g. coal) plants? Or will geothermal supplement the existing portfolio? What percentage of power will come from geothermal? For example, if a large utility company currently supplies 9000 MW to its customers, adding a 20 MW geothermal plant to its portfolio will have little effect on electricity rates. Conversely, if a small, rural utility company supplying 100 MW chooses to replace 20 MW from coal with geothermal, rates will probably increase noticeably. The cost of geothermal power is highly variable and dependent on such factors as rock formation geology (e.g. depth, temperature, water chemistry), site accessibility, cost of capital, local weather conditions (which affect the thermodynamic efficiency of the plant), permitting, land ownership (public v. private), transmission (getting the electricity into the grid), etc. The cost of building a new geothermal power plant is roughly $2.5m to $4.5m per MW installed capacity. The price of geothermal power when purchased through a power purchase agreement (PPA) currently ranges from roughly $85 to $110 per MWh, often with an escalator (e.g. 1% or 2% per year). The price increase passed on to the rate payer depends on the current energy portfolio of each utility company. Will geothermal replace fossil-fired (e.g. coal) plants? Or will geothermal supplement the existing portfolio? What percentage of power will come from geothermal? For example, if a large utility company currently supplies 9000 MW to its customers, adding a 20 MW geothermal plant to its portfolio will have little effect on electricity rates. Conversely, if a small, rural utility company supplying 100 MW chooses to replace 20 MW from coal with geothermal, rates will probably increase noticeably.

it's a relative term, "inexhaustible" if you want a answer that's a simple no.

relative to our lives, and the lives of 10000 generations after us (if we get lucky enough to last that long, and i like to think that we will), yes it is inexhaustible... and I'm sure that's probably what you were asking.

however; because I'm an up-tight nerd, i have to point out that the dynamo that is our earth's core will eventually quit producing usable heat for those weird looking ancesters of ours (i say ours, but i really more likely mean yours... again... I'm an up-tight nerd)... and will likely go the way of mars, a geographically dead planet that no longer has the ability to re-shape its surfaces through its own core's energy.

Some people would think that it's very reliable, and other people would disagree. So really it depends. I think it's very reliable for the fact that it's safe towards the environment, always simple to use and very sustainable.