WELCOME TO
Smith Volcano
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal springs for power plants. Currently, the most common way of capturing the energy from geothermal sources is to tap into naturally occurring "hydrothermal convection" systems, where cooler water seeps into Earth's crust, is heated up, and then rises to the surface. Once this heated water is forced to the surface, it is a relatively simple matter to capture that steam and use it to drive electric generators. Geothermal power plants drill their own holes into the rock to more effectively capture the steam.
Direct use of geothermal heat. Geothermal springs can also be used directly for heating purposes. Geothermal hot water is used to heat buildings, raise plants in greenhouses, dry out fish and crops, de-ice roads, improve oil recovery, aid in industrial processes like pasteurizing milk, and heat spas and water at fish farms. In Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho, geothermal water has been used to heat homes and buildings for more than a century. On the east coast, the town of Warm Springs, Virginia obtains heat directly from spring water as well, using springs to heat one of the local resorts [8].
Why geothermal energy is important?
Geothermal energy is collected by tapping into hot water and steam trapped beneath the Earth's surface. This water and its steam are known collectively as hydrothermal energy. Geothermal energy is considered to be limitless. Its heat comes from the core of the Earth, a 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year energy source. The amount of heat extracted for use is negligible compared with the Earth's total heat content, so it's virtually impossible to make any significant impact on the inner temperature of the planet during the extraction process [source: U.S. Department of Energy]. Simply put, there is an inexhaustible supply of heat. Unless the core of the planet turns cold (which presents more pressing problems for life on Earth) it's safe to say that geothermal power is completely renewable.
1. Geothermal power is reliable power: Here the main argument of utility-scale geothermal power production adding reliability to the power systems as it provides a base-load power source, with a scalability from small to large sizes.
2. Geothermal energy is environmentally friendly: Her the issue of life-cycle emissions and the overall land use comparison are giving good reasoning on why geothermal is environmentally friendly.
3. Geothermal makes good economic sense: The overall cost of sourcing energy is mentioned in this regard and it is pointed out that there are virtually no fuel costs for geothermal plants and provide a very low cost renewable power on long-term fixed power prices, something that clearly differs for various countries, but in generally applies pretty much everywhere.