Geothermal Energy Bailey Roberts

Where Does Geothermal Energy Come From? Geothermal energy comes from two primary sources:  Primordial heat  Radioactive decay Geothermal energy is heat from the earth.

Geothermal Energy to Electricity  Dry-steam power plants generate electricity using geothermal energy.

How can geothermal energy be used directly to heat homes and factories?  A power plant would have to be connected to the home or factory.

What is a “heat pump”  Heat pump: A device that transfers heat from a colder area to a hotter area by using mechanical energy (as in a refrigerator).

Advantages  Geothermal energy is renewable  Doesn’t produce pollution  Geothermal energy doesn’t rely on other sources of fuel to keep running  Power stations don’t require a lot of space & tend to have less of an impact on the surrounding environment

Disadvantages  Location is very particular – Only few sites have the potential of Geothermal Energy.  Installation cost of steam power plant is very high  Hazardous gases and minerals can seep up from beneath the ground, and finding a way to safely dispose of them is difficult and dangerous

Geothermal Energy Locations Some US Locations That Use Geothermal Energy:  California  Nevada  Utah  Wyoming  Idaho  Oregon

What is being done to encourage geothermal energy?  Many countries are setting up carbon taxes or carbon caps and trading. This is making the use of fossil fuels more expensive and companies are moving to renewable energy such as geothermal.