Geothermal energy is the energy obtained from the earth(geo) from the hot rocks present

inside the earth. It is produced due to the fission of radioactive materials in the earths core and
some places inside the earth become very hot. These are called hot spots. They cause water
deep inside the earth to form steam. As more steam is formed, it gets compressed at high
pressure and comes out in the form of hot springs which produces geothermal power.

Geothermal Energy Advantages

Environmentally friendly There are a few polluting aspects to harnessing
geothermal energy, and the carbon footprint of a geothermal power plant is seen
as minimal. An average geothermal power plant releases the equivalent of 122 kg
CO2 for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity it generates one-eighth of the
CO2 emissions associated with typical coal power plants.

A renewable resource Geothermal reservoirs are naturally replenished.

According to some scientists, the energy in our geothermal reservoirs will last
billions of years. While fossil fuels have an expiry date, renewable sources like
geothermal energy is not going to expire anytime soon.

Potential capacity Estimates for the potential of geothermal power plants vary
between 0.035 to 2 TW.

A stable resource The power output of a geothermal plant can be accurately

predicted. Not subject to the same low-energy fluctuations as with solar or wind.

Great for Heating/Cooling There is significant growth in the number of

homeowners utilizing geothermal heating/cooling over the last couple of years.

No fuel required After installation, no mining or transportation activity is

necessary.

Small land footprint Smallest land footprint of any major power source.

Stable resource Can provide base load or peak power.

Economic factors Cost-competitive in some areas.

Accessibility Some level of geothermal energy available most places.

Renewable Geothermal energy is extracted from earths core and will be

available as long as earth exists. It is therefore renewable and can be used for
roughly another 4-5 billion years.

Abundant Supply With geothermal energy, there are no shortages or other

sorts of problems which sometimes occur with other types of power.
 Significant Savings for Home Owners There has been a tremendous increase
in the number of homeowners who want to utilize geothermal energy for heating
and cooling purposes. The result is that less energy is used for heating homes and
offices which results in significant savings for home owners. After the initial
expense, a 30-60% savings on heating and 25-50% savings on cooling can cover
that cost within few years.

Geothermal Energy Disadvantages

Potential emissions Greenhouse gas below Earths surface can
potentially migrate to the surface and into the atmosphere. Such emissions tend to
be higher near geothermal power plants, which are associated with sulfur dioxide
and silica emissions. Also, and the reservoirs can contain traces of toxic heavy
metals including mercury, arsenic and boron.

Surface Instability Construction of geothermal power plants can affect the

stability of land. In January 1997, the construction of a geothermal power plant in
Switzerland triggered an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale.

High cost for electricity Total costs usually end up somewhere between $2 7
million for a 1 MW geothermal power plant.

High up-front costs for heating and cooling systems While there is a
predictable ROI, it will not happen quickly.For an average sized home, installation
of geothermal heat pumps costs between $10,000 $20,000 which can pay off
itself in another 5-10 years down the line

Location Specific Good geothermal reservoirs are hard to come by. Iceland and
Philippines meet nearly one-third of their electricity demand with geothermal
energy. Prime sites are often far from population centers.

Distribution costs If geothermal energy is transported long distances, cost can

become prohibitive.

Sustainability questions Some studies show that reservoirs can be depleted if

the fluid is removed faster than replaced. This is not an issue for residential
geothermal heating and cooling, where geothermal energy is being used
differently than in geothermal power plants.

Cost of Powering the Pump Geothermal heat pumps need a power source.

May Run Out of Steam: You have to be incredibly careful when you are trying to
check everything that is related to geothermal energy. Mind must be taken to
watch the heat and not to abuse it, because if the heat is not taken care of
properly, it can cause a meltdown or other issues where the energy is not properly
distributed or used.