Geothermal energy comes from energy kept within the earth itself in order to provide clean, green energy without contributing to climate change. It is a lot more cost effective and scalable than wind generators and solar panels and is actually significantly safer than nuclear fission. So whenever looking for an alternate to fossil fuels, give geothermal energy a chance.
Imagine a future free of traditional energy sources, a world where all of us are not shackled by oil or polluting the environment by burning coal. With geothermal energy this vision is feasible today. Geothermal power functions by tapping into the power of the earth itself to produce thoroughly clean, reliable energy that does not exploit natural resources and will be around for future generations. Plus, in contrast to traditional fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a very important tool in the fight against climate change.
But how does geothermal energy work and also what makes it any greater than various other kinds of alternative energy like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put this simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the energy absorbed 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 power consumption several times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this power by drilling deep beneath the planet’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then warmed naturally and the energy is converted into electrical energy. They produce serious sums of electricity too, with 10 gigawatts produced in 2007. Even though this is actually just a small amount of the worldwide total, geothermal energy use is growing every day as more and more countries change over to sustainable sources of electrical power.
In contrast to nuclear energy plants, geothermal wells create no hazardous radioactive waste that needs to be moved and stored and it has benefits over other non-fossil energy sources as well. Solar panels and wind turbines, while still superb sources of green energy, are pricey and can’t be scaled up to the extent that geothermal power plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small device designed to power a single house to huge utility plants that can power an entire metropolis. Additionally it is a time tested technology that has been around for many years. In fact, the Romans even depended on geothermal wells to warm 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 qualities that the heat provided.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to give in an more and more sustainable culture. It is completely renewable, creates very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost effective method of generating electricity without adding to global warming. For these reasons geothermal energy is considered a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and especially fossil fuels as an energy source.
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