Geothermal energy comes from energy located within the earth itself in order to provide clean, renewable energy without contributing to climate change. It is more cost effective and also scalable as compared to wind generators and solar panels and is actually much safer than nuclear fission. So whenever searching for an option to traditional fuels, give geothermal energy a chance.
Picture a future totally free of traditional energy sources, a world where all of us are not shackled by oil or harming the atmosphere by burning coal. With geothermal power this vision is feasible today. Geothermal energy works by tapping into the power of the earth itself in order to create clean, reliable energy which does not make use of natural resources and will be around for future years. Plus, unlike traditional fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a really important tool in the battle against climate change.
But exactly how does geothermal energy work and also exactly what makes this any better than some other varieties of green power like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put it simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the energy soaked up daily 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 whole human population’s energy usage many times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this power by drilling deep below the earth’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then warmed naturally and the energy is transformed into electrical power. They create serious sums of electrical power too, with ten gigawatts created in 2007. Though this is actually only a small amount of the worldwide total, geothermal power use is growing every day as more and more countries change over to environmentally friendly sources of electricity.
In contrast to nuclear power plants, geothermal wells produce no dangerous radioactive waste materials that needs to be moved and stored and it has benefits over other non-fossil energy sources as well. Solar panels and wind generators, while still outstanding sources of green energy, are pricey and can not be scaled up to the extent that geothermal plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small unit designed to power a single house to huge utility plants that can power an entire city. Additionally 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 medicinal properties that the heat provided.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to give in an increasingly sustainable society. It is completely renewable, creates very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost efficient technique of generating electricity without contributing to global warming. For these reasons geothermal power is considered a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and especially fossil fuels as an energy source.
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