Geothermal Technologies Systems: Direct-use: A drilled well into a geothermal reservoir to provide a steady stream of hot water. Deep reservoirs to generate electricity: Power plants that use steam, accessed through deep wells, to directly drive a turbine to produce electricity. California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah currently have operating geothermal power plants. Geothermal heat pumps: A geothermal heat pump transfers heated, stored water in the ground, into a building during the winter, and transferring it out of the building and back into the ground during the summer.
Geothermal Power Plant
Geothermal Power Plant in CA
Ground water temperatures 6kM below the Earth’s surface
Advantages Renewable Minimal pollution
Disadvantages Limited areas Requires drilling to find a source Produces hydrogen sulfide gas
Lec: Biomass
What is biomass energy A renewable energy source produced by burning organic wastes such as wood, sawdust, and garbage.
How does it work?
Advantages Not a lot of harmful emissions like fossil fuel burning Carbon dioxide released can be taken back by growing more biomass Reduces air pollution Reduces water pollution Cheap fuel
Disadvantages Hard to make on your own Expensive Greenhouse gasses are produced Natural resources at risk
Where it is used in the United States