What are the two main uses of geothermal energy?
USES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY 1) Direct Use and District Heating Systems which use hot water from springs or reservoirs near the surface. 2) Electricity generation in a power plant requires water or steam at very high temperature (300 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit).
What are the environmental disadvantages of geothermal energy?
The environmental effects of geothermal development and power generation include the changes in land use associated with exploration and plant construction, noise and sight pollution, the discharge of water and gases, the production of foul odours, and soil subsidence.
What are 5 uses of geothermal energy?
Its current uses include heating buildings (either individually or whole towns), raising plants in greenhouses, drying crops, heating water at fish farms, and several industrial processes, such as pasteurizing milk.
What energy is geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is heat within the earth. The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth.
What are the advantages of geothermal energy sources?
Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible renewable source of energy. The main advantage of geothermal energy is that it is a renewable energy.
How much does a geothermal power plant cost?
Geothermal energy is an expensive resource to tap into, with price tags ranging from around $2-$7 million for a plant with a 1 megawatt capacity. However, where the upfront costs are high, the outlay can be recouped as part of a long-term investment. 5.
Why are geothermal power plants bad for the Earth?
Geothermal energy also runs the risk of triggering earthquakes. This is due to alterations in the Earth’s structure as a result of digging. This problem is more prevalent with enhanced geothermal power plants, which force water into the Earth’s crust to open up fissures to greater exploitation of the resource.
Can a geothermal heat pump be used as a heat sink?
Alternatively, the temperature difference between the surface and a ground source can be used. Due to the ground being more resistant to seasonal heat changes than the air, it can act as a heat sink/ source with a geothermal heat pump just two metres below the surface. 6. Reliable