Geothermal Energy Student Work

How It’s Produced Can be harnessed anywhere a few hundred feet underground Water is heated and forced to the surface through convection currents of geysers or other hydrothermal systems Some companies drill holes to stimulate the natural process

Where is it Produced? Can harnessed anywhere Most powerful where tectonic plates overlap Examples include volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, etc.

What are the Uses? If found as steam, it can be used directly to run turbines and generators. Hot water may be “flashed” into steam It can “naturally” cool a house by circulating the air through pipes in the ground back to the house. This can also be done to warm a home Heat greenhouses Used in fish farms to keep the water warm Used to prevent sidewalks and roads from freezing over Great source of renewable power

Pros and Cons Pros Very high supply already that also replenishes quickly Not susceptible to price fluctuation Considered the most “green” due to no products of combustion Tax credits offered to those who use it in their homes Cons Costs for building generation plants are very high Can’t be transported to different sites Hazardous to deal with; requires a great deal of care and caution Places where it can be reached can’t be relocated (similar to hydroelectric plants)

Sources of Information http://greenlivingideas.com/2007/10/22/the-uses-of-geothermal-energy/ http://lsa.colorado.edu/essence/texts/geothermal.html