What is Geothermal?
Geothermal Energy is heat (thermal) derived from the earth (geo).
It is the thermal energy contained in the rock and fluid (that fills
the fractures and pores within the rock) in the earth's crust.
Calculations show that the earth, originating from a completely
molten state, would have cooled and become completely solid many
thousands of years ago without an energy input in addition to that
of the sun. It is believed that the ultimate source of geothermal
energy is radioactive decay occurring deep within the earth (Burkland,
1973).
In most areas, this heat reaches the surface in a very diffuse
state. However, due to a variety of geological processes, some areas,
including substantial portions of many western states, are underlain
by relatively shallow geothermal resources.
These resources can be classified as low temperature (less than
90°C or 194°F), moderate temperature (90°C - 150°C or 194 - 302°F),
and high temperature (greater than 150°C or 302°F). The uses to
which these resources are applied are also influenced by temperature.
The highest temperature resources are generally used only for electric
power generation. Current U.S. geothermal electric power generation
totals approximately 2200 MW or about the same as four large nuclear
power plants. Uses for low and moderate temperature resources can
be divided into two categories: direct use and ground-source heat
pumps.
Direct use, as the name implies, involves using the heat in the
water directly (without a heat pump or power plant) for such things
as heating of buildings, industrial processes, greenhouses, aquaculture
(growing of fish) and resorts. Direct use projects generally use
resource temperatures between 38°C (100°F) to 149°C (300°F). Current
U.S. installed capacity of direct use systems totals 470 MW or enough
to heat 40,000 average-sized houses.
Ground-source heat pumps use the earth or groundwater as a heat
source in winter and a heat sink in summer. Using resource temperatures
of 4°C (40°F) to 38°C (100°F), the heat pump, a device which moves
heat from one place to another, transfers heat from the soil to
the house in winter and from the house to the soil in summer. Accurate
data is not available on the current number of these systems; however,
the rate of installation is thought to be between 10,000 and 40,000
per year.
The current production of geothermal energy from all uses places
third among renewables, following hydroelectricity and biomass,
and ahead of solar and wind. Despite these impressive statistics,
the current level of geothermal use pales in comparison to its potential.
The key to wider geothermal use is greater public awareness and
technical support.
Information furnished by the Geo-Heat Center.
Click here for additional information about the basics of Geothermal
Energy. Geothermal Energy, Clean Sustainable Energy for the Benefit
of Humanity and the Environment, from the Energy and Geoscience
Institute - University of Utah.
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