Geothermal Energy - Case Study Example

Geothermal Energy No: Geothermal Energy Earth has almost four layers, crust, mental, outer core andinner core. The metal and outer cores of the earth have extremely high temperatures. The energy stored in these layers is the geothermal energy. However, the extraction of this type of energy to make it usable is a difficult task but earth crust has some spots where this type of energy can be easily collected to be in a usable manner.Geothermal grounds or geothermal reservoirs are such spots on the earth’s crust that allow the geothermal energy to be dispensed.

A geothermal power plant generates electrical power by utilizing the thermal energy from earth and converting it to the electrical energy by utilizing the methods utilized in a thermal power plant. To generate the power, long alloyed pipes that have higher resistivity against the corrosion and high temperatures and pressure are bored deep down into the earth’s crust to make the geothermal energy usable. When water is allowed to run into theses pipes, the geothermal energy makes the temperature of the water to shoot to a level where it converts into steam.

Several geothermal power plants are working in the world to provide an uninterrupted power to different locations in the world. Geothermal grounds are parts where two tectonic plates meet. However, the energy can also be gathered without having the geothermal grounds by boring the pipes into the earth crust and marinating a heat exchange.Geothermal energy can be utilized for the majority of energy application like electricity generation, heating the water to be supplied to the homes and industry (DeGunther 2008).

If considering the economic aspect of the energy source, it has enough potential to provide the energy to the world. It is type of green power and has a potential that cannot be counted but it has more than the potential to meet the all the energy requirements of the world (Mock, Tester & Wright 1997). In hotter regions it can also be utilized to maintain the temperature of home lower to certain degrees, as the temperature of the earth remains constant to 20-25o C. The operational cost associated to the geothermal power plants is comparatively low.

While having so much advantages of the geothermal energy, there are some disadvantages of utilizing the geothermal energy. As the geothermal energy is made usable by digging deep down into the earth, the cost of the digging sometimes rises to an unmanageable way. Sometimes the expected amount of geothermal energy differs to the actual amount due to the lack of technology. Sometimes the amount of energy longs for lesser periods as expected. In this way, the plant has to be shifted to another location.

However, the cost of digging always remains high. Earth quake is also a problem associated with the geothermal power plants.If correct technology is applied the geothermal energy cost can be reduced. Rather than utilizing the conventional digging techniques, modern digging techniques near the geothermal reservoirs should be utilized to lower the cost of geothermal energy.ReferencesDeGunther, Rik. (2008). Energy Efficient Homes for Dummies. Canada: John Wiley and Sons.Mock, John E., Tester, Jefferson W.

, Wright, P. Michael. (1997). Geothermal Energy from The Earth: Its Potential Impact As An Environmentally Sustainable Resource. Salt Lake City, Utah: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Energy & Geoscience Institute, University of Utah.