I'm back! Apologies for the two week absence, but I needed to finish up some work for school. Anyway, we're back to the weekly schedule, and what better way to get back into it by continuing where we left off (kind of) and talking about some alternative energies. I'm considering doing a mini-series on the different types of alternatives in the future, and I wanted to test the waters with this post. I think that most people already know a good deal about wind and solar energy, so I wanted to start off the series with a form of energy collection that is a bit less well known. So let's talk about geothermal energy, what exactly it is, and its possible pros and cons.
What is Geothermal Energy?
Simply put, geothermal energy is energy gathered from the heat of the Earth. Below the crust, there is a layer of magma which produces enough heat that, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, "[within 10,000 meters] contains 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the word" (Citation link at bottom of post). Obviously, that's a lot of energy, and a huge possibility for supplying our energy needs in the years to come, but how exactly is this energy captured and used?
Well, it all has to do with what are called hydrothermal convection systems. They have a big name, but are actually pretty easy to understand. These convection systems are areas where cool water, coming from below the surface of course, seeps down deep enough into the ground where it can be heated up by this magma. This creates hot water and steam that can be extracted from the ground, and used to generate energy. Now, there are a few different types of geothermal power plants, all with different methods of actually harnessing the energy, but with limited space and time, I don't find it completely necessary to describe each in depth. What you really need to know about the process is what was mentioned before: water is heated up, harnessed by the power plant to generate energy, and then released back into the ground as slightly cooler water. If you do want to learn about the details of each type of plant, you can click here.
What can geothermal energy be used for?
So, now that we have a base understanding of how it functions, how can we use geothermal energy? Well, today it is primarily used for heating, whether that be in greenhouses, buildings or for other purposes. In fact, there are actually some "mini" geothermal plants in use that can source heat directly into a building, which is possible because the temperatures under the Earth remain consistent all year round. Of course, like other sources of alternative energy, geothermal can also be used to generate electricity for other purposes, like powering homes. However, as it stands today, this is not its primary function, which makes sense considering other forms of alternative energy, such as wind and solar, seem to do that much better.
Pros of geothermal energy
Again, like other alternative energies, geothermal gives a multitude of benefits over traditional and harmful energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil. The first and most notable of these benefits is the fact that the production of geothermal energy creates less pollution than coal, oil, or gas. Because nothing has to be burned to create the energy, less harmful pollutants are released. According to National Geographic, "Geothermal fields produce only about one-sixth of the carbon dioxide that a relatively clean natural-gas-fueled power plant produces." And, as mentioned earlier in this post, the amount of geothermal energy that can be harnessed from the Earth would be equal to or even more than the amount of energy we get from coal, oil, and gas.
Additionally, another prominent benefit from geothermal energy, compared to other alternatives such as wind and solar, is that it's available all year round, no matter the conditions. The earth is ALWAYS warm, no matter how sunny it is or how much wind there might be. As such, many consider geothermal to be a more reliable form of energy. And finally, geothermal energy is cheap too. According to National Geographic, "Savings from direct use can be as much as 80 percent over fossil fuels" (Citation at bottom of post). So, it's cheap, reliable, and more environmentally friendly. What's not to like?
Cons of geothermal energy
Well, as we've seen over the years with the introduction of fracking, what seems like a miracle solution may not actually be what we're looking for. And unfortunately, geothermal energy does have some cons. First, it's not completely environmentally friendly. Many geothermal plants release a gas called hydrogen sulfide, which has been linked to many health problems in people who are exposed to it. This could result in situations similar to fracking where poorer neighborhoods are targeted because of their inability to fight back, and forced to feel the harmful effects of the plants. Additionally, production of geothermal energy creates some toxic fluids. Many of these fluids have been disposed of properly and efficiently on smaller scales, but it has to be wondered if that would remain consistent on a larger scale. And finally, the energy isn't permanent. Sites producing geothermal energy can only do so for so long, and after a little while they may begin to cool down.
Conclusion
So, what's the takeaway here? Well, I say it's that geothermal energy should be used in moderation. One form of alternative energy cannot possibly support all of our needs; it requires a mixture of various forms all working together. Geothermal energy is great in the sense that there is a lot of it, and it can be harvested all year round, but not so great in the sense that it releases some pollutants. It's certainly not the miracle form of energy anyone can use, but in the future it will play a role in the hopeful shift from coal, oil, and gas to better solutions. It's not the best form of alternative energy out there, but it sure is a whole lot better than the energy we use now. If used in moderation, geothermal energy can play a large role in helping us make our energy cleaner for us, and for the environment. Thanks for reading.
All credit for information used in this post goes to:
https://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-geothermal-energy-works.html#.Woij26inEdU
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/geothermal-energy/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/geothermal-energy.htm
http://www.climatemaster.com/residential/how-geothermal-works/
https://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/geothermal/geothermal-energy/how-does-geothermal-energy-work
Images:
http://www.q99live.com/2017/05/08/geothermal-facility-could-be-in-countys-future/
https://www.classle.net/#!/classle/book/geothermal-energy/
https://alternativeenergyatunc.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/technology-roadmap-geothermal-heat-and-power/
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/energy/geothermal/home.html
http://thewatershedonline.ca/why-geothermal/
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/geothermalenergyhistory.php
https://www.nrel.gov/gis/geothermal.html
https://blog-en.condorchem.com/water-treatment-in-geothermal-power-plants/#.WomcCainGUk
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-raises-the-thermostat-for-geothermal-energy/article/2645710
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