Geothermal Energy: Clean, Sustainable Power Today
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Geothermal power comes from energy kept inside of the earth itself to give clean, green energy with out adding to climate change. It is more cost effective and also scalable as compared to wind turbines and solar panels and is a lot safer in comparison with nuclear fission. So when searching for an alternative to fossil fuels, give geothermal energy a chance.
Imagine a future totally free of fossil fuels, a world where we are not shackled by oil or harming our atmosphere by burning coal. With geothermal power this vision is actually possible today. Geothermal energy operates by tapping into the power of the earth itself to produce clean, dependable energy that does not use natural resources and will always be around for future years. In addition, unlike traditional fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a really essential tool in the battle against climate change.
But exactly how does geothermal power work and exactly what makes this any greater than various other forms of alternative power like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put it simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the energy soaked up every day by the sun, the earth’s core has sufficient energy left over from its formation and from the radioactive decay of elements to cover the entire human population’s energy consumption numerous times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this particular power by drilling deep beneath the earth’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then heated naturally and the energy is converted into electricity. They produce serious amounts of electrical energy too, with 10 gigawatts produced in 2007. Although this is just a tiny amount of the worldwide total, geothermal power use is increasing daily as more and more countries switch over to sustainable sources of electrical power.
In contrast to nuclear energy plants, geothermal wells create no dangerous radioactive waste materials that needs to be moved and stored and it offers benefits over other non-fossil fuel sources as well. Solar panels and wind turbines, while still outstanding sources of renewable energy, are costly and cannot be scaled up to the degree that geothermal power plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small device designed to power a single home to big utility plants that can power an entire metropolis. Additionally it is a time tested technology that has been around for many years. In fact, the Romans even depended on geothermal wells to heat their famous baths and floors such as those found in Bath in Somerset. The ancient Chinese dynasties tapped into the power of hot springs as well and took advantage of the therapeutic properties that the warmth provided.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to provide in an increasingly sustainable culture. It is totally green, creates very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost effective technique of generating electricity without adding to global warming. For these reasons geothermal power is considered a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and especially fossil fuels as an energy source.
Click here for more info on heat pumps