About Geothermal Energy

Features

• Geothermal energy is basically heat energy that comes from various sources. If it is shallow in the Earth, it is likely that the energy comes from hot water streams or collections, such as geysers. Deeper in the earth, geothermal energy exists in heated rocks and also in magma, which occurs when rocks are heated so much that they melt.
  
  

Production

• Geothermal energy is converted at power plants after hot water or rock is drilled or piped from the earth. Drilling is expensive but allows more energy to be gathered. Hot water close to the earth is piped out with little drilling and runs through a plant, powering the turbines that create electricity and energy. Geothermal steam is also used in the same way, and some plants put wells into rock underground and heat the water inside before using it to create energy.
  
  

Benefits

• Geothermal energy has many advantages as an energy source. For one, the plants that convert it to electricity take up much less space than nuclear or coal plants, which drops their production price. This energy type is also sustainable as it can be generated constantly and over time, and it also has zero emissions, making it a very green source of energy.
  
  

Potential

• Geothermal energy has a very strong potential if it is harnessed correctly. Already there are examples of sustainable plants in Italy and California that have been operating and providing energy for decades. Recent studies have claimed that the amount of harvestable geothermic energy is enough to take care of the world's current energy needs for a few millennia.
  
  

History

• Although geothermal springs were used for bathing and the like for many years, it wasn't until the beginning of the 20th century that geothermal energy was used to make electricity. In 1904, the first geothermal plant was built in Italy and it continues to run today. The next successful plant was built in 1958 in New Zealand, and shortly after a third was built in California. Today, this energy is being researched heavily as a possible replacement for current popular energy sources.