What is Geothermal Energy? An Overview Essay -- Alternative Energy Pow

What is Geothermal Energy? An Overview The term geothermal comes from the Greek geo meaning earth and therine meaning heat thus geothermal energy is energy derived from the natural heat of the earth. The heat that flows from the Earth's hot interior due to crustal plate movements, zones of high heat flow, may be located close to the surface where convective circulation plays a signifcant role in bringing the heat close to the surface (World Bank Group, 2004). earth coreThe Earth's crust, on which we live and depend, is in large part the product of millions of once-active volcanoes and tremendous volumes of magma that did not erupt but instead cooled below the surface. Such persistent and widespread volcanism has resulted in many valuable natural resources throughout the world. ... Groundwater heated by large, still-hot magma bodies can be tapped for geothermal energy. -- Excerpt from: Brantley, 1994, Volcanoes of the United States, USGS General Interest Publication Deep circulation of groundwater along fracture zones will bring heat to shallower levels, collecting the heat flow from a broad area and concentrating it into shallow reservoirs or discharging as hot springs. These reservoirs may contain hot water and/or stream. By drilling into these reservoirs, the hot water and/or steam is piped to the surface where it is used for direct use applications, or the high pressure steam is separated to drive turbines for power generation. The low energy waste water form such power generaiton is then usually re-injected back into the reservoir, or further utilised for direct heat applications. This technology enables it to be utilised to generate electricity and provide domestic and industrial heat. Geothermal energy has proven... ...ermal Energy.† 07 April 2003. http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld108.html Green Jobs, "Introduction to Geothermal Energy." 18 August, 2002. http://www.greenjobs.com/Public/info/industry_background.aspx?id=11 Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. â€Å"Geothermal Energy Research.† 11 September 2004. http://geothermal.id.doe.gov/ n Kilpenin, Malia. â€Å"Renewable Energy.† 20 May 1997. http://community.hei.com/altenergy/geo.ad.html n U.S. Geological Survey. â€Å"The Plus Side of Volcanoes – Geothermal Energy.† 16 December 2004. http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/PlusSide/geothermal.html n World Bank Group. â€Å"Geothermal Energy.† 18 August 2004. http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/energy/geothermal/ n World Flowers. â€Å"Technical: The Harnessing of Geothermal Energy.† 27 February 2005. http://www.world-flowers.co.uk/09technical/geothermal.html What is Geothermal Energy? An Overview Essay -- Alternative Energy Pow What is Geothermal Energy? An Overview The term geothermal comes from the Greek geo meaning earth and therine meaning heat thus geothermal energy is energy derived from the natural heat of the earth. The heat that flows from the Earth's hot interior due to crustal plate movements, zones of high heat flow, may be located close to the surface where convective circulation plays a signifcant role in bringing the heat close to the surface (World Bank Group, 2004). earth coreThe Earth's crust, on which we live and depend, is in large part the product of millions of once-active volcanoes and tremendous volumes of magma that did not erupt but instead cooled below the surface. Such persistent and widespread volcanism has resulted in many valuable natural resources throughout the world. ... Groundwater heated by large, still-hot magma bodies can be tapped for geothermal energy. -- Excerpt from: Brantley, 1994, Volcanoes of the United States, USGS General Interest Publication Deep circulation of groundwater along fracture zones will bring heat to shallower levels, collecting the heat flow from a broad area and concentrating it into shallow reservoirs or discharging as hot springs. These reservoirs may contain hot water and/or stream. By drilling into these reservoirs, the hot water and/or steam is piped to the surface where it is used for direct use applications, or the high pressure steam is separated to drive turbines for power generation. The low energy waste water form such power generaiton is then usually re-injected back into the reservoir, or further utilised for direct heat applications. This technology enables it to be utilised to generate electricity and provide domestic and industrial heat. Geothermal energy has proven... ...ermal Energy.† 07 April 2003. http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld108.html Green Jobs, "Introduction to Geothermal Energy." 18 August, 2002. http://www.greenjobs.com/Public/info/industry_background.aspx?id=11 Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. â€Å"Geothermal Energy Research.† 11 September 2004. http://geothermal.id.doe.gov/ n Kilpenin, Malia. â€Å"Renewable Energy.† 20 May 1997. http://community.hei.com/altenergy/geo.ad.html n U.S. Geological Survey. â€Å"The Plus Side of Volcanoes – Geothermal Energy.† 16 December 2004. http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/PlusSide/geothermal.html n World Bank Group. â€Å"Geothermal Energy.† 18 August 2004. http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/energy/geothermal/ n World Flowers. â€Å"Technical: The Harnessing of Geothermal Energy.† 27 February 2005. http://www.world-flowers.co.uk/09technical/geothermal.html