Geothermal power comes from energy kept within the earth itself in order to give clean, alternative energy with out adding to climate change. It is more cost effective and also scalable in comparison with wind turbines and solar panels and is actually much safer in comparison with nuclear fission. So when hunting for an option to fossil energy sources, give geothermal energy a chance.
Imagine a future free of traditional energy sources, a world where we are not shackled by oil or polluting the atmosphere by burning coal. With geothermal energy this vision is feasible today. Geothermal energy operates by tapping into the energy of the earth itself to create thoroughly clean, reliable energy which does not use natural resources and will be around for future generations. Plus, in contrast to fossil fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a extremely important tool in the battle against climate change.
But exactly how does geothermal power function and exactly what makes it any better than some other forms of renewable energy like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put this simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the actual energy soaked up every day by the sun, the earth’s core has enough energy left over from its formation and from the radioactive decay of elements to cover the complete human population’s energy consumption numerous times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this particular energy by drilling deep below the planet’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then heated naturally and the energy is transformed into electrical energy. They create serious amounts of electricity too, with ten gigawatts created in 2007. Though this is only a small quantity of the worldwide total, geothermal energy use is increasing every day as more and more countries switch over to environmentally friendly sources of electrical power.
As opposed to nuclear power plants, geothermal wells produce absolutely no harmful radioactive waste materials that needs to be moved and stored and it has benefits over other non-fossil fuel sources as well. Solar panels and wind turbines, while still excellent sources of green energy, are expensive and can not be scaled up to the degree that geothermal plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small unit designed to power a single home to huge utility plants that can power an entire town. In addition 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 early Chinese dynasties tapped into the power of hot springs as well and took advantage of the therapeutic properties that the warmth supplied.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to provide in an increasingly sustainable society. It is totally green, creates very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost efficient technique of producing electricity without adding 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.
Click here for much more info on heat pumps