Advantages & Disadvantages Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy creates electricity from superheated areas under the Earth's surface. There are numerous advantages to using geothermal energy, however, simple economics and a lack of suitable locations has limited its expansion as a viable option for alternative energy. However, many governments and companies are focusing on the positive effects of geothermal energy and renewed the push for the construction of power plants.

History

The advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy were first realized at the end of the 1800s. After years of research, the first geothermal generator was built in 1904. On July 4, Italian Prince Piero Ginori Conti activated the machine on the dry steam field in Larderello. Researchers working at the time found that the power was both efficient and sustainable. However, they realized that the challenges geothermal power had would hold the technology to its early state for years. Because of these advantages and despite the disadvantages, many countries, including the United States, made efforts to construct geothermal energy power plants.

Benefits

One of the best advantages of geothermal energy is the lack of pollution created. Governments and companies concluded that there was an interest in reducing carbon emissions on a global scale. The U.S. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that humans produce more than 27 billion tons of carbon emissions every year. Since geothermal energy does not contribute to this pollution, many organizations have pushed for its implementation.

In addition, geothermal energy does not use fuel to generate electricity. Cold water is pumped into the ground and superheated. When the water rises back to the surface, the heat is collected and converted to electricity. This means the costs of operating one of these power plants is limited to day-to-day operations and labor. No fuel means no pollution.

Geography

One disadvantage of geothermal energy is that it has a limited capacity. There are only so many locations that can be used to produce geothermal energy. For a power plant location to be utilized, it needs to contain a natural heat-producing feature. Areas with volcanic activity can be used, however, there is a danger of an eruption. This makes geysers, places where superheated water rise to the surface, the ideal choice for a power plant. The challenge with this is that there are a finite amount of sites with such active geysers.

Considerations

The world generates less than 1 percent of its power from geothermal energy, according to the World Energy Council. The only countries with substantial systems of geothermal energy are the Philippines and Iceland. They receive nearly 20 percent of their nation's power consumption needs from this process. A disadvantage to the system is the lack of emphasis on geothermal power as a viable alternative energy option. Most companies do not partake in the construction of the power plants due to the time it takes to find a suitable location.

Features

The United Nations has identified geothermal as a green energy option. In an effort to cut carbon emissions globally and move toward energy independence, countries have begun to build more geothermal power plants despite the challenges that exist. Some of these countries have even offered tax break and subsidies to coax companies into building these power plants.

The advantage of this is the fact that geothermal power plants are self-sustaining, powering itself after it has been activated. Once operational, they also produce power at a 90 percent efficiency rating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. They can operate 24 hours per day.

Also, due to the heavyweight design, geothermal power plants tend to have a longer lifespan than oil and coal plants. Most plants that were built during the early portion of the 20th century have continued to operate well into the 21st century.

Resources

• Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
• Geothermal Energy Locations
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy