We have the technology to do plenty of things and one of those is to tap the earth’s energy. This is exactly what we do when we choose to use geothermal which happens to be a green energy source.
Geothermal energy is energy obtained by drumming heat from the earth itself. This comes from magma and the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium.
The downside to geothermal energy is the fact that it is dear to build. From the other perspective, as the earth’s crust continuously rots replenishing the heat, it still is a renewable power source.
There are 3 sorts of geothermal plants around. These are namely dry steam, flash, and binary.
Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to immediately drive a turbine that spins a generator.
Flash plants take on water at temperatures over 200C, out of the ground, and allows it to boil as it rises to the surface then separates the steam phase in steam/water separators which runs the steam thru a turbine to generate electrical power.
Last, you have binary plants. Here, hot water flows through heat exchangers and that boiling organic fluid is what spins the turbine.
Once power is generated, the condensed steam and remaining geothermal liquid from all 3 types of plants are injected into the hot rock to pick up more heat.
Geothermal plants are used operational in different parts of the globe. These are often found in geologically unstable parts of the planet. You can see some in Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines and Italy. At home, 2 most outstanding areas for this are in the Yellowstone basin and in northern California.
Apart from digging deep into the earth, there are some who believe we will generate power from hot dry rocks. You’ve got to dig 3 kilometers deep are drilled into the earth first to find these hot underground radiogenic granite rocks. Right now, some Australia companies are exploring this technology.
If you were to compare the quantity of energy collected from geothermal to solar, you still get more from the sun. Notwithstanding that, people should still use it since solar electricity cannot be harnessed when the clouds block the sun’s rays from reaching the solar panels.
Geothermal energy is a green energy source just like wind, hydropower and biofuel because it’s replaceable. By maximizing its potential, we don’t have to fret about the price of oil in the world market when it hit more than $110 a barrel and is now under $40 in the world market.
But that is not the one thing we ought to be concerned about. We also should do our best to offer protection to the environment given that coal fired and nuclear energy generation stations produce dangerous gases and radioactive waste that will cause to folk and the near by areas.
Everyone knows that our world has changed due to planetary warming. We learned our lessons from Chernobyl and 3 Mile Island but this does not necessarily mean it might not occur again.
For us to do our share to protect the environment now and for generations to come, we’ve got to promote alternative energy and geothermal as a green energy source is one of many that is now available.
Sarah Green is an environmental campaigner, activist, and strong believer in being energy self-sufficient. In her free time, she reports on DIY alternative energy plans and kits, such as the ben ford homemade energy download.
We are very seriously considering making this investment to help cut our heating bills. We use propane now. Please let me know of any pluses or minuses you may have experienced. Thank you