Geothermal power presentation

Geothermal ElectricityGeothermal Electricity

By Joshua Greenaway, Raymond Catto By Joshua Greenaway, Raymond Catto and Scott Brownand Scott Brown

So what is Geothermal So what is Geothermal Electricity?Electricity?

Geothermal Electricity is electricity created Geothermal Electricity is electricity created through use of the heat in or on the Earths through use of the heat in or on the Earths surface.surface.

It can be created through hot rock or water It can be created through hot rock or water found deep in the earth, or through use of steam found deep in the earth, or through use of steam from hot springs.from hot springs.

The most powerful source for this electricity, The most powerful source for this electricity, would be magma, but unfortunately, as of yet would be magma, but unfortunately, as of yet there is no available technology to harness it’s there is no available technology to harness it’s heat.heat.

How is this Electricity How is this Electricity generated?generated?

Geothermal energy is produced in three different Geothermal energy is produced in three different kinds of plants, ‘Dry Steam’, ‘Flash Steam’ and kinds of plants, ‘Dry Steam’, ‘Flash Steam’ and Binary cycle.Binary cycle.

Dry steam plants take steam directly from the Dry steam plants take steam directly from the underground sources and using pipes, direct it to underground sources and using pipes, direct it to the turbines that power the generators.the turbines that power the generators.

Flash steam energy is produced through the Flash steam energy is produced through the welling of extremely hot water which, as it rises, welling of extremely hot water which, as it rises, causes steam which is channeled to the causes steam which is channeled to the turbines.turbines.

How is this Electricity How is this Electricity generated? generated?

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Binary cycles plants use the heat from hot Binary cycles plants use the heat from hot water to boil an organic compound fluid with a water to boil an organic compound fluid with a low boiling point. The steam produced from the low boiling point. The steam produced from the boiling fluid is used to spin the turbines, boiling fluid is used to spin the turbines, powering the generator.powering the generator.

Advantages of Advantages of Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy

Geothermal energy saves costs. The energy Geothermal energy saves costs. The energy saves 80% costs over fossil fuels such as coal saves 80% costs over fossil fuels such as coal and no fuel is actually needed.and no fuel is actually needed.

Use of alternative energy sources such as Use of alternative energy sources such as Geothermal energy reduces the use of fossil Geothermal energy reduces the use of fossil fuels and our overall dependence on them. fuels and our overall dependence on them. This is particularly helpful considering the This is particularly helpful considering the rising costs of oil.rising costs of oil.

Advantages of Advantages of Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy

(Continued...)(Continued...)Geothermal energy is also environmentally Geothermal energy is also environmentally friendly. Unlike fossil fuels, it is a renewable friendly. Unlike fossil fuels, it is a renewable energy source and has virtually no carbon energy source and has virtually no carbon footprint whatsoever as the only gasses it footprint whatsoever as the only gasses it releases from the earth, are ones that are not releases from the earth, are ones that are not harmful to the environment at all.harmful to the environment at all.

Geothermal energy can also be used as a Geothermal energy can also be used as a direct source for heating water for baths or direct source for heating water for baths or cooking, and can also be used to heat homes cooking, and can also be used to heat homes and buildings.and buildings.

Advantages of Advantages of Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy

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Use of this energy also has the economic Use of this energy also has the economic benefit of creating employment.benefit of creating employment.

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy

Geothermal plants lack of worldwide spread Geothermal plants lack of worldwide spread poses issues for training, resources and poses issues for training, resources and infrastructure.infrastructure.

Though geothermal energy is cheap to run, it Though geothermal energy is cheap to run, it can be expensive to set up a plant for its can be expensive to set up a plant for its production. This can be said for a lot of production. This can be said for a lot of different energy sources though, including different energy sources though, including fossil fuels.fossil fuels.

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy

(Cont...)(Cont...)Geothermal sites can also run out of steam Geothermal sites can also run out of steam slowly over time, making huge investments in slowly over time, making huge investments in the sites worthless for the companies.the sites worthless for the companies.

Huge amounts of research are needed to find a Huge amounts of research are needed to find a suitable place for a geothermal energy plant to suitable place for a geothermal energy plant to be located.be located.

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy

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Though Geothermal sites may not harm the Though Geothermal sites may not harm the environment, they can still pose a threat to environment, they can still pose a threat to human life as they can release poisonous human life as they can release poisonous gasses trapped in the earth into the air.gasses trapped in the earth into the air.

Effectiveness of Geothermal Power

Though Fossil Fuels are a non-renewable Though Fossil Fuels are a non-renewable source of energy, Geothermal Power is source of energy, Geothermal Power is constant and renewable. This is good since constant and renewable. This is good since Geothermal Power doesn’t negatively impact Geothermal Power doesn’t negatively impact the environment.the environment.

Fossil Fuels produce green house gasses into Fossil Fuels produce green house gasses into the environment causing a lot of pollution and the environment causing a lot of pollution and global warming, whereas Geothermal Power is global warming, whereas Geothermal Power is cleaner and produces no pollution.cleaner and produces no pollution.

Effectiveness of Geothermal Power

(Cont...)Fossil Fuels are rapidly decreasing meaning we Fossil Fuels are rapidly decreasing meaning we may have no access to this source of energy in may have no access to this source of energy in the near future. Geothermal Power, on the the near future. Geothermal Power, on the other hand, is renewable which means we can other hand, is renewable which means we can access it forever.access it forever.

The strength of Geothermal Power can power The strength of Geothermal Power can power several cities, whereas average power plants several cities, whereas average power plants do not have that capacity.do not have that capacity.

How safe is Geothermal Power

It is dangerous to drill in the area of the site.It is dangerous to drill in the area of the site.

The strength of Geothermal Power can power The strength of Geothermal Power can power several cities, whereas average power plants several cities, whereas average power plants do not have that capacity.do not have that capacity.