Geothermal energy is a platform for harnessing the inherent energy found within the earth. Here is an overview of how the process works from a practical point of view.
Energy generation from geothermal sources
There are many types of fuels used in the world that are considered to be environmentally friendly. These types of energy include solar power, which uses hydropower to generate electricity, and hydropower to generate electricity. An environmentally sound energy source that is often overlooked, it must be grouped with others. Geothermal energy is the use of the earth's own heat to produce the energy and heat used by people.
Geothermal energy is so named because it is derived from the Greek words "earth heat", "geo" and "therm". Extreme heat is generated in the Earth's interior, with temperatures reaching 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The core of the earth then transfers heat to the mantle, the layer of rock that surrounds the core. This rock melts due to the formation of magma (molten rock) due to intense heat. The water in this magma layer is stored in columns or reservoirs. This trapped water, which can heat up to about 700 degrees Fahrenheit, is called a geothermal reservoir. When engineers want to use geothermal energy, they "tap" into this geothermal water and use the resulting hot water and steam for various purposes.
Geothermal power plants operate by using steam to push power turbines into geothermal water reservoirs. These turbines rotate to generate electricity, which can be used to power industries or even residential areas. The first geothermal engineering power plant was built in 1904 in Italy.
These days, geothermal power plants generate 7000 MW of electricity per year. Geothermal power plants are located in 21 countries worldwide. In the United States alone, the equivalent of producing 60 million barrels of oil per year is generated by geothermal energy, a major source of energy.
Geothermal energy has been used by cultures throughout history for thousands of years. The process used to harness geothermal energy compared to other energy processes is always relatively simple and the components used are well known to all. The concept of using super hot water from the magma layers of the earth may seem high-tech, but once you tap this resource, it is easy to maintain and use as a sustainable energy source.
The best analogy to geothermal energy production is another alternative energy source. It works in much the same way as hydropower. Water is used to spin turbines that generate electricity. In the case of geothermal energy, however, water most often evaporates from the earth's chambers.
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