GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Trapping the Earth’s Internal Heat

How is Geothermal Energy Generated?
• Temperatures hotter than the sun’s surface are
continuously produced inside the earth by a slow
decay of radioactive particles

• The most common method that scientists use to find

geothermal reservoirs is drilling a deep well and
testing the temperature deep underground.

• Steam or very hot water from deep within the earth

is piped to the surface and used as a heat source or
to produce electricity.

• Earth’s kinetic energy is converted into electricity.

 Energy Efficient and Cost Effective
• According to the
EPA, geothermal are
the most energy
efficient, cost
effective, and
environmentally
clean systems for
temperature control
 Uses and Goals
• Heat pumps – heat and cool building; melt snow
from roads and sidewalks

• Direct use applications – greenhouses, heat water

for fish farming, pasteurize milk, food
dehydration, gold mining

• Power plants – produce electricity

• Help mitigate global warming

How is Geothermal Energy Generated?
• Temperatures hotter than the sun’s surface
are continuously produced inside the earth by
a slow decay of radioactive particles

• People around the world use geothermal

energy to produce electricity and heat their
homes by digging deep wells and pumping the
heated water or steam to the surface
 Where is Geothermal Energy Found?
• Found along major
plate boundaries where
earthquakes and
volcanoes are
concentrated
– Geysers
– Hot springs
– Fumaroles
– Geothermal reservoirs
The Ring of Fire
Tiwi
Palinpinon
BacMan
Maibarara
 The US and Geothermal Energy
• Most of the geothermal reservoirs in the U.S. are
located in the western states, Alaska and Hawaii.
• California generates the most electricity from
geothermal energy.
• "The Geysers" dry steam reservoir in northern
California is the largest known dry steam field in
the world and has been producing electricity
since 1960.
• 7 states have geothermal power plants
• In 2008 U.S. geothermal power plants produced
0.4% of total electricity in the United States.
 Iceland
• Iceland plans to run
its entire economy
on renewable
hydropower,
geothermal energy,
and wind; and use
these sources to
produce hydrogen
gas for running all
of its motor
vehicles and ships
by the year 2050.
 Geothermal Power Plants
• Require high
temperatures (300 F –
700 F) hydrothermal
resources that may either
come from dry steam
wells or hot water wells

• There are three types of

geothermal power plants:
dry steam plants, flash
steam plants, and binary
cycle power plants
 Dry Steam Plants
• Use steam piped
directly from a
geothermal
reservoir to turn
the
turbogenerator
 Flash Steam Plants
• Takes high pressure hot
water from deep inside
the earth and converts it
to steam to drive the
generator turbines
• When the steam cools it
condenses into water and
is injected into the earth
to be used over and over
again.
• Most geothermal plants
are flash steam plants
Flash Steam Power Plants are the most common form of geothermal power
plant. The hot water is pumped under great pressure to the surface. When it
reaches the surface the pressure is reduced and as a result some of the water
changes to steam. This produces a ‘blast’ of steam. The cooled water is
returned to the reservoir to be heated by geothermal rocks again.
 Binary Cycle Power Plants
• Transfers the heat from
geothermal hot water
to another liquid.
• The heat causes the
second liquid to turn to
steam which is used to
drive a generator
turbine.
Geothermal Power Plant Piping
 Geothermal Power Plants and the
Environment
• Geothermal power plants
do not burn fuel to generate
electricity so their emission
levels are very low
• Release less that 1% of
carbon dioxide emissions of
a fossil fuel plant
• Use scrubber systems to
clean the air of hydrogen
sulfide
• Emits 97% less acid rain-
causing sulfur compounds
than fossil fuel plants
 Advantages
• Very high efficiency/high net yield
• Very reliable (runs 24 hrs. a day)
• Very clean – no air pollution or GHGs
• Renewable and sustainable
• Conserves fossil fuels
• Can help decrease dependence of foreign oil
• No transportation involved
 Disadvantages
• Can’t provide our current energy needs
• Can only be used in certain geologically active
areas
• Water contains minerals that can be corrosive
and difficult to dispose of safely
• Harmful gases can escape from deep within the
earth
• Piping system requires large areas of land
• Initial costs can be high