Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is the use of heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity and direct heating. It is a renewable, sustainable source of energy that has a low environmental impact since it uses heat from hot springs, reservoirs, and volcanic activity to produce power.

1.0What is Geothermal Energy? 

Here, the word geothermal is derived from two Greek words - Geo - which means Earth, and therme, meaning heat from the Earth.

Geothermal energy is referred to as the heat from the Earth's interior. It is the hot form of heat stored in the rocks and fluids beneath the earth's surface, leading to volcanic zones or tectonic regions. Earth's core heats up, and this warmth flows upward through the Earth's various layers and is utilised for different purposes.

2.0Types of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is of many different types. Some of the main types are as follows: 

1. Hot Water Reservoirs: These are sub-surface water bodies heated by geothermal power. The water here has temperature ranges between 150°C and 370°C; they can either produce energy for direct heating or producing electricity.
2. Geothermal Steam: This steam is stored in the particular ground and can be exploited directly through the steam extracted here to be converted to drive turbine powers at the generation point for the production of electricity in particular stations.
3. Hot Dry Rocks (HDR): These are regions that have a very hot earth crust and do not have any natural reservoirs for water. Water is supplied to such hot rocks, and steam is created for power production.
4. Geothermal Heat Pumps: The temperature under the earth's surface remains relatively constant and can be applied to heat up or cool a building. Geothermal heat pumps work in the principle that heat energy can be moved from building to ground, which is very efficient for conditioning space.

3.0Uses of Geothermal Energy 

Geothermal energy has a wide range of uses, starting from electricity generation for households to direct applications in industry. Here are some of the basic uses of Geothermal energy: 

1. Electricity Generation: Geothermal energy is mostly used to generate electricity by geothermal power plants. Three types of geothermal power plants exist - flash steam, dry steam, & binary cycle - in which heat is converted to electricity; the most widespread geothermal power plants are flash steam and binary cycle.
2. Direct Use Applications: Geothermal energy is used directly to provide direct heating for buildings, agricultural greenhouses, fish farms, industrial heating, and even spa baths. This is very helpful when countries are rich in geothermal sources.
3. Geothermal Heat Pumps: These systems make use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling. They tap into the fairly constant temperature of the Earth's crust to provide a relatively energy-efficient means of heating or cooling homes and businesses.
4. Industrial Applications: Geothermal energy can be used in various industrial processes, such as drying crops, pasteurising milk, and other food processing activities. It can also be used in mineral extraction and for heating large-scale industrial operations.

4.0Advantages of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source; hence, there are many advantages of using this source of energy; some of the most common are:

1. Renewable Resource: Geothermal energy is a non-exhaustible resource since the internal heat of the Earth is continuously replenished, unlike fossil fuels, which are finite.
2. Environmentally Friendly: Geothermal energy emits fewer greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuel-based energy sources. It is a clean & green source of energy that helps reduce carbon footprints.
3. Reliable and Stable: Geothermal energy is unlike solar and wind power because it is available 24/7, not dependent on the weather. It is, therefore, a source of power that is reliable in electricity generation and heating.
4. Low Operating Costs: The operational and maintenance costs for a geothermal power plant are relatively low once built. Geothermal systems, particularly heat pumps, have low energy consumption, which makes them cost-effective in the long run.
5. Small Land Footprint: The geothermal power plant requires less land as compared to other renewable energies such as wind or solar farms. This makes it feasible for lands with a limited area.