Geothermal Energy: Clean, Environmentally Friendly Power Today
06/15/2010
Geothermal power comes from energy stored inside the earth itself in order to provide clean, renewable energy without adding to climate change. It is much more cost effective and also scalable in comparison with wind turbines and solar panels and is actually significantly safer in comparison with nuclear fission. So when hunting for an option to fossil energy sources, give geothermal energy a chance.
Envision a future free of fossil energy sources, a world where we are not shackled by oil or harming the environment by burning coal. With geothermal energy this vision is actually possible today. Geothermal power operates by tapping into the energy of the earth itself to create thoroughly clean, dependable energy which does not use natural resources and will always be around for future years. Plus, as opposed to fossil fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a really essential tool in the battle against climate change.
But exactly how does geothermal power work and also exactly what makes this any greater than various other types of renewable power like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put it simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the energy absorbed every day by the sun, the earth’s core has ample energy left over from its formation and from the radioactive decay of elements to cover the entire human population’s energy consumption many times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this particular power by drilling deep beneath the planet’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then warmed naturally and the energy is changed into electrical power. They produce serious quantities of electrical power too, with ten gigawatts produced in 2007. Even though this is actually only a tiny quantity of the global total, geothermal energy use is increasing every day as more and more countries change over to environmentally friendly sources of electricity.
Unlike nuclear energy plants, geothermal wells produce no hazardous radioactive waste materials that needs to be moved and stored and it has advantages over other non-fossil energy sources as well. Solar panels and wind generators, while still outstanding sources of green energy, are expensive and can not be scaled up to the degree that geothermal power plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small device created to power a single house to huge utility plants that can power an entire city. Plus it is a time tested technology that has been around for millennia. In fact, the Romans even depended on geothermal wells to heat their famous baths and floors such as those found in Bath in Somerset. The ancient Chinese dynasties tapped into the power of hot springs as well and took advantage of the healing qualities that the heat supplied.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to give in an increasingly sustainable society. It is completely green, creates very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost effective method of producing electricity without contributing to global warming. For these reasons geothermal power is considered a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and particularly fossil fuels as an energy source.
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