Pros & Cons of Geothermal Electricity
A quest to utilize more renewable energy sources is one of the major concerns for environmental scientists in our modern world. Non-renewable sources, such as oil, are being used at a rate that cannot be sustained for an extended period of time. More renewable sources are under consideration to help ease the dependence on fossil fuels in our everyday lives. Geothermal energy is one of these sources. Heat energy from deep inside the Earth can heat buildings or help produce electricity.
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Geothermal Energy Basics
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Heat is a form of energy just as is light, sound or electricity. The Earth gives off heat, which you can see around certain locations such as volcanoes, hot springs and geysers. Geothermal reservoirs are typically underground with few visual cues of their existence on the surface. This form of energy has been used by ancient cultures to heat homes, cook food and bathe. Most of the geothermal activity in the United States is located in the Western states.
Advantages
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Geothermal energy is considered a renewable source because the energy source does not have a readily approaching limit. Solar energy works under the same principle because we do not anticipate that the sun will lose all its energy. An advantage to using geothermal energy is that it produces few by-products. The heat and steam make their way to the surface naturally; power plants just harness the power to do useful work. Another advantage is that power plants do not have to be large to be effective. The relatively small size of geothermal power plants brings down their environmental footprint.
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Disadvantages
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A major disadvantage to using geothermal energy is that harnessing this energy may not be feasible in some areas of the world. Reservoir depth, rock type and general location all play an important role in determining if a geothermal plant can be built at a certain site. Some of the costs associated with developing a new power plant can outweigh the benefits of using geothermal energy. Facilities can take up to 20 years to make back the money spent in starting the site.
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References
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