Definition

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy is a term that many people have probably heard, but may not know what it means. Geothermal energy is important because it is one of many possible renewable energy sources found in the world today. The reason renewable energy sources are viable is because as a society we have become reliant on non-renewable energies such as fossil fuels. The main issue with non-renewable energies is just that, there is a finite amount of them. When they run out we will have to search for other options. I believe geothermal energies are one of those options that we could begin using now.

The term geothermal energy is not nearly as difficult as it sounds. It is the use of thermal energy created by the earth to create electricity. The process is much more complicated than that, but the concept is not too difficult. Geothermal energy is created by either molten lava found deep inside the earth or by tectonic plates shifting creating heat. The heat created by these sources then heats the groundwater (found beneath the surface) to high temperatures causing the water to turn into steam. At this point it can be tapped into and the steam mined for energy (”Geothermal Energy).

Geothermal is a technology that is both renewable and not renewable (Geothermal Energy). It is a renewable source in the fact that as long as we give it enough time it will renew itself. However, it isn’t a renewable source in that we could very easily over process it and pull resources faster than can be replenished.

“”The Geysers," the world's largest geothermal facility, is a working model on how not to approach a so-called "renewable" geothermal resource. Built in the 1950s on a steam field in Northern California, the facility was established on the apparent assumption that geothermal resources were infinite at that location. However, by the late 1980s, steam decline became noticeable and sustained. Depletion occurred because steam was being extracted faster than it could be naturally replaced” (“Geothermal Energy”).

The Northern California facility found a system to help replenish resources by pumping waste water into the ground to be heated by the geothermal energy. In addition they were all around more responsible with how they extracted the steam. The source is renewable but if it is extracted too quickly then it will run out similar to a non-renewable source.

Another issue with geothermal energy is the lack of locations. For the energy to be great enough to heat up the water there needs to be a lot of energy. As it stands there are very few of these locations in the world and many great sites are found in protected forests where they are not allowed to setup equipment in the protected landscape. In addition the machines used for extraction of the heat and steam do emit a little carbon dioxide. Both the scarcity and Co2 emissions are the major flaws in this renewable energy.

Geothermal is one of many options for renewable energy. At this point I believe we can use alternative energy efficiently and step back from relying so heavily on fossil fuels and other non-renewable energies.


“Geothermal Energy”. Alternative Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.