There are many different sorts of energy available to power our world. For a long while folks have employed the power of burning carbon-based fuels, such as coal (also used to provide steam power) to make energy. In the recent past, there has been a shift to using replenish-able resources to form the energy we need. These resources include hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind power, biomass energy and geothermal energy. While many people know about the first 4 of these resources, geothermal energy is less well-known.
The word geothermal comes from 2 Greek words, "geo" and "therme". These words mean "earth" and "heat", which pretty much describes what geothermal energy is. Geothermal energy is energy that comes from the heat of the Earth, deep underground. The Earth's core, where chemical reactions create great amounts of heat, is 4,000 miles below the Earth's surface. In this core, temperatures can reach up to 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and this extreme heat may be used to produce energy.
While these are the fundamentals of geothermal energy, there are many other parts in the process to make this kind of energy usable. We won't tap right into the Earth's core to receive this heat, for many reasons. So instead , folks must create systems that harness the remaining heat that is in the magma (molten rock) under the Earth's crust. This heat is able to be used by utilizing the water reservoirs that are in the magma - these water stores can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of Old Faithful in Yellowstone.
A well can be drilled down into the superheated water contained within the Earth's magma - the geothermal reservoir. Once these geothermal reservoirs are plugged into, the heated water and steam can rise to the surface, and be used to power geothermal power generation plants as well as in smaller scale projects for private household use. When utilized in geothermal power plants, the steam from the heated underground water is commonly used to power turbines, which then generate energy which can on occasion be harnessed as electricity.
By utilizing the Earth's own heat and water, energy can be made that can be utilized on a little or sizeable scale. This renewable resource (you cannot use the Earth's heat) is also cleaner and safer than many other sorts of energy, making it a great kind of ecologically sound power source.
The word geothermal comes from 2 Greek words, "geo" and "therme". These words mean "earth" and "heat", which pretty much describes what geothermal energy is. Geothermal energy is energy that comes from the heat of the Earth, deep underground. The Earth's core, where chemical reactions create great amounts of heat, is 4,000 miles below the Earth's surface. In this core, temperatures can reach up to 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and this extreme heat may be used to produce energy.
While these are the fundamentals of geothermal energy, there are many other parts in the process to make this kind of energy usable. We won't tap right into the Earth's core to receive this heat, for many reasons. So instead , folks must create systems that harness the remaining heat that is in the magma (molten rock) under the Earth's crust. This heat is able to be used by utilizing the water reservoirs that are in the magma - these water stores can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of Old Faithful in Yellowstone.
A well can be drilled down into the superheated water contained within the Earth's magma - the geothermal reservoir. Once these geothermal reservoirs are plugged into, the heated water and steam can rise to the surface, and be used to power geothermal power generation plants as well as in smaller scale projects for private household use. When utilized in geothermal power plants, the steam from the heated underground water is commonly used to power turbines, which then generate energy which can on occasion be harnessed as electricity.
By utilizing the Earth's own heat and water, energy can be made that can be utilized on a little or sizeable scale. This renewable resource (you cannot use the Earth's heat) is also cleaner and safer than many other sorts of energy, making it a great kind of ecologically sound power source.
About the Author:
Stephen Spreadbury is a professional photographer who's always on the lookout for a better product or idea for a better earth.
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