1. Geothermal Energy
Student Work

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. Sources of Information