Turning red-hot lava from an energetic volcano into electrical energy can be harmful and unreliable. Volcanoes don’t erupt on predictable schedules, and lava cools too shortly. However many nations, together with the U.S., have discovered methods to faucet volcanic warmth to make electrical energy.
Geothermal vitality comes from warmth generated by pure processes deep inside the Earth. In most areas, this warmth solely warms rocks and underground water close to the floor. In volcanically energetic areas, nevertheless, the warmth is far more intense. Generally, it melts rock, forming magma.
Volcanoes act like large warmth vents, elevating magma nearer to Earth’s floor. A few of this molten rock could erupt, however a lot of it stays underground, heating the encompassing rocks and water. The place heated water rises to the floor, it creates scorching springs and geysers that may final for 1000’s of years.
To harness this vitality to generate electrical energy, engineers determine areas the place magma is close to the floor and drill deep wells all the way down to the heated rocks and water. These wells carry steam to the floor, the place it’s directed into an influence plant to spin generators and generate electrical energy.
Earth’s warmth could be transformed into geothermal vitality in a number of alternative ways.
After it produces electrical energy, the steam cools and condenses again into scorching water. The water could also be used to convert a distinct liquid with a a lot decrease boiling level, similar to butane, to drive a second generator. Then, it’s pumped again underground to be reheated.
The Earth consistently produces warmth, so geothermal vitality is a renewable useful resource. And geothermal energy vegetation produce a lot much less air pollution, waste, and greenhouse gasoline emissions that heat Earth’s local weather than burning coal, gasoline, oil, or utilizing nuclear vitality.
Geothermal vitality sources can final for many years and even longer. In contrast to different renewable sources similar to photo voltaic and wind energy, geothermal vitality is out there 24/7, one year a yr.
The World’s Geothermal Sizzling Spots
Geothermal vitality is already utilized in many locations around the globe, particularly in areas with lots of volcanic exercise. For instance, nearly all of Iceland’s electrical energy comes from renewable sources, with geothermal vitality supplying about 25%. The nation sits on high of many energetic volcanoes, making it an ideal place for geothermal energy vegetation.
Some U.S. states, together with Californiaand Nevada, have geothermal energy vegetation, because of their volcanic areas. Different energetic geothermal websites, similar to Yellowstone Nationwide Park in Wyoming, are shielded from improvement.
Most geothermal energy vegetation in america are in western states and Hawaii, the place geothermal vitality assets are near the Earth’s floor. USEIA
Challenges for Geothermal Energy
Why isn’t geothermal vitality used as broadly as wind or solar energy? First, geothermal energy vegetation should be close to volcanoes or different locations the place it’s unusually scorching beneath the floor. These assets aren’t at all times close to giant cities or industries that use lots of electrical energy.
Second, drilling deep wells and constructing energy vegetation could be costly. Nevertheless, the long-term advantages of geothermal energy typically outweigh the preliminary prices.
Third, in some instances, drilling and pumping water beneath strain may cause small earthquakes. Scientists and engineers are working to predict and handle this impact.
Regardless of these challenges, tapping into the Earth’s pure warmth can create a renewable, dependable and clear supply of vitality. As know-how improves, extra locations around the globe will flip to geothermal vitality to gentle up individuals’s lives. Volcanoes are reminders of a terrific powerhouse deep underground that’s ready to be harnessed.
David Kitchen is an Affiliate Professor of Geology on the College of Richmond. This text is republished from The Dialog beneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the unique article.