Geothermal
Geothermal energy is heat energy from within the Earth. Some geothermal energy is generated by tapping into water sources near the surface of the Earth such as hot springs or reservoirs. Other types of geothermal energy production requires drilling into the Earth. While hot spots in the Earth are ideal locations, other places can be used but incur greater cost and consequences. Geothermal energy has been used for heating buildings, food dehydration and milk pasteurizing.
The earliest known uses of geothermal energy date back to 10,000 BC, where it was used for cooking and bathing. The Romans built geothermal baths, today still located in the town of Bath, England. Geothermal energy has been used to heat homes and businesses while geothermal water has been used for medicinal purposes like treatment of high blood pressure and skin conditions. Geothermal energy was first used to generate electricity in Italy in 1904 and the first large-scale power plant in the U.S. began operation at the Geysers just north of San Francisco, CA in 1960.48 Currently, the United States leads the world in geothermal energy production, “using 0.45% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation.” Geothermal energy is most prevalent in the western United States, with California ranking number one in geothermal energy generation.49
The production of geothermal energy has several advantages. The process emits no CO2. It is also one of the most reliable sources of renewable energy as it produces electricity regardless of weather conditions. In addition, geothermal power plants are compact in size compared to other structures typically used for different types of renewable energy.
A major downside of geothermal energy is its expense. There is a high initial facility setup cost, and drilling to reach the interior of the Earth is costly. Additionally, geothermal power plants can cause earthquakes with hydraulic fracturing. They are also very location specific and are only sustainable when reservoirs are properly managed with fluid being removed faster than replaced. Finally, greenhouse gases below the surface of the Earth can be emitted.50
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