1.  Geothermal Energy By: Emma Karnatz, Julia Ford, Jeffrey Chonko, and Spencer Mitchell Room 7A

2. What do you think?  What do you think Geothermal Energy is?  What do you think this energy is used for?  Where does Geothermal Energy come from?

3. Right/Wrong?  Geothermal Energy- is a natural energy that is good for the environment.  Geothermal Energy is used for heating homes, electricity generators, and geothermal heat pumps.  Geothermal Energy is found in the earth’s core.

4. How it is Gathered and Transformed  http://www.engineering.com/Videos/VideoPlayer/tabid/462 7/videoId/649/geothermal-energy-process.aspx http://www.engineering.com/Videos/VideoPlayer/tabid/462 7/videoId/649/geothermal-energy-process.aspx  They drill holes down to the hot region, steam comes up, is purified, and used to drive turbines, which drive electric generators.

5. Advantages  Does not produce pollution.  Power stations don’t take up much room.  No fuel is needed.  Once built energy is almost free.  Geothermal power stations are relatively small, and have a lesser impact on the environment than for instance hydroelectric plants.

6. Disadvantages  Geothermal sites may “run out of steam”  Dangerous gases and minerals may come up that are hard to get rid of.  Not many places to build a Geothermal power station.  When heated water is taken from the ground, the rock under the ground may become to dry.  When this happens, the rock may break or shift, causing small earthquakes.  If the water dries up in an area it could take hundreds or even thousands of years to refill that area of water.

7. Facts!  Geothermal Energy means “Earth Heat”  It is found only in certain places around the world, usually near volcanoes or around deep cracks in the earth.  Today there are nearly 150 geothermal power plants all over the world.  Iceland, Italy, New Zealand, and the United States are some of the countries best able to harness Geothermal Power.

8. How is it Eco-Friendly?  Geothermal Energy does not produce pollution. Since it does not produce pollution it keeps the air around clean and healthy.  Geothermal Power Stations do not take up much room. Therefore it does not take up much room there is more room for plants and other eco-friendly items.

9. The Process According to Us! 1. Steam rises through a well. 2. The steam drives turbines, which in turn drive electric generators. 3. The generators produce electrical energy. 4. The steam escapes the power plant through vents. 5. Excess water is put back to the hot rock.

10. The Process

11. Where it is found!  Geothermal Energy is found in the core of the earth.  You need to drill a hole into the ground to get the geothermal energy.  It can be found as close as the dirt in our own backyard.

12. Heating!  Most of the energy that heats the earth’s core is so hot that it comes from nuclear reactions taking place there.  It can also be used to heat buildings and homes around the U.S.  The fluid is pumped through through a building or house.

13. Thank you! Thank you for listening to our presentation! Do you have any questions for us?

14. Bibliography  Energy and Movement. Chicago: Encyclapedia Britannica, 2008. Print.  Geothermal Energy. Copyright. 1999 <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/geothermal energy  Gibson, Dianne. Geothermal Power. Manakato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2002. Print.  Graham, Ian. Geothermal and Bio – Energy. Austin, TX. Raintree Steck- Vaughn. 1999. Print.  Parker, Steve. Fuels For the Future. Austin, TX. Raintree Steck – Vaughn. 1998. Print.  Richard, Julie. Future Energy. South Yarra, Vic. Macmillan Education, 2007. Print.