Geothermal Energy
What is a Resource?
Outline the features of a resource that would classify as non-renewable
A resource is a benefiting source or supply from which energy is produced. Non-renewable resources are not easily replenished by the environment, and are unsustainable economic extractions for energy that won’t last the extent of humanity's time-frame. These include fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, as these take many billions of years to form, and cannot be replenished quickly enough. Renewable resources will never be depleted during the existence of humanity, such as solar energy from the sun, which will last for another 5 billion years.
Formation, location and Uses
Explain how Geothermal energy is found/formed used
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Geothermal (geo meaning “earth” and thermal meaning “heat” in Greek) Energy is the heat from within the Earth, generated during the formation of Earth 40,000 years ago. Mainly, the gradual decay of radioactive isotopes such as potassium-40 and thorium-232 in the Earth’s core is what forms geothermal energy. This heat constantly radiates outwards and warms rocks, water gas and many other geological material. It is a clean and sustainable energy source which can be obtained from a range of places, such as from blasting geysers (called hot springs) and erupting volcanoes, all sourcing from the lithosphere (crust and upper mantle). Geothermal tap pumps can obtain this energy for heating as well as for electricity when sent to power stations. The Ancient Romans used to build elaborate spas and baths next to hot springs. Low-temperature Geothermal Energy, which can be accessed easily and immediately, can be used for heating greenhouses, fisheries (such as for drying fish), industrial processes (like pasteurising milk), as well as for cooking. The heat is stored in pockets about 150OC and lies just a few metres underground. The amount of heat within 10,000 meters (about 33,000 feet) of Earth's surface contains 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the world. Location of use in Australia Show on a map where it is used. What factors are important in determining the locations of mining/usage of geothermal energy. Damage and effects What damage to the natural environment does the use of Geothermal Energy cause. Even though Geothermal energy is a nonrenewable source it still has damaging effects on the environment.
However environmental impacts will differ depending on the conversion and cooling technology used. Firstly geothermal plants can have effects on both water quality and consumption. Hot water pumped from underground reservoirs often contains high levels of salt, sulfur and other minerals. Air emissions in a open-looped system emit boron, ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane which will also have a harmful impact on the environment. Furthermore hydrogen sulfide changes into sulfur dioxide once in the atmosphere. This harmful gas contributes to small acidic particulates that can be absorbed by the bloodstream and cause heart and lung disease. This gas is also aids in creating acid rain, which in turn damages forests, soils and crops, and acidifies streams and lakes. Land subsidence, which is caused by the removal of water from the geothermal reservoirs can also have a colossal effect on the …show more content…
environment. Geothermal power produces almost no pollution and occupies very little area. However, like the tidal power, the commencement of these plants are very expensive. AMAZING FACT: Geothermal power plants could use Carbon Dioxide According to a recent study, pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks could generate power and reduce greenhouse gases at the same time.
Usually, to get geothermal energy you would have to pump water down through hot rocks and extracting it again. However, a recent discovery suggests that carbon dioxide can be more efficient in extracting heat. Studies show that CO2 can increase energy-production by over 50%.
Obtaining Geothermal Energy
What technologies are used to obtain this resource.
Most of the geothermal heat does not bubble out as magma, water of steam, but instead, it is stored in the mantle, collecting as pockets of heat. By drilling and pumping down water to create steam, this energy can be harnessed.
Currently, geothermal energy is currently produced at a power station in Birdsville, Western Queensland, using diesel-powered generators. The fluid, at 98OC, comes from the Great Artesian Basin. This fluid runs through an Organic Rankine cycle heat exchanger full of gas which heats and pressurises it, driving a turbine and alternator to produce electricity.
Geothermal heat pumps can extract heat from hot springs. This system consists of a heat pump, an air delivery system called ductwork, and a heat exchanger (system of pipes buried in the shallow ground near the
building). In winter, this heat pump removes heat from the outside and pumps it into the indoor air delivery system. In the summer, the process is reversed, and the heat pump moves heat from the indoor air into the heat exchanger. The removed heat can be used as a source of hot water. In a geothermal aquifer, water is pumped down deep holes and returns as high temperatures (as it passes through hot rocks) for heating. Alternatively, water can be pumped down deep pipes, be heated to up to 200OC by the hot rocks, and returns as hot steam which can spin turbines to generate electricity. Geothermal Energy is very abundant but can be difficult to get, as it is very deep down in some areas. Geothermal energy is restricted to small areas where hot rock is not to far below the surface.
"5 Things to Know About a Geothermal Heat Pump." The Family Handyman. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2014
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Due to this effect, it widely impact lives and cultures around its area. During winter, temperatures of the whole Yellowstone will drop to 0 degree Fahrenheit, and the snow thickness reaches 20 inches. In addition, an elevation of 7,733 feet (2,357 m) above sea level forms rarefied air in Yellowstone area. All of these show a severe circumstance for any plants or animals. However, geothermal energy in Yellowstone changes this condition.
Alternative energy sources are renewable, and is most commonly referred to as free energy sources. There are many alternative energy sources such as hydro power, solar power, wind, biomass, and geothermal. Using alternative sources is more expensive in the long run, but it is the much safer option for our environment compared to fossil fuels. Although everything used is completely free, such as water and wind, the equipment used to generate these things are expensive. There are several pros and cons that come with the utilization of alternative energy sources.
Renewable energy is an energy obtained from the natural resources such as from sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat. Australia has extensive energy resources which include both renewable and non-renewable sources. (Pam Pham, 2015) Additionally, there are varieties of renewable energy technologies use in Australia which provided substantial benefits for climate and health to the environment they are bioenergy, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy and so on. Whereas, fossil fuel resources such as black and brown coal which has a huge impact on global warming and environmental pollution. Generally, the energy produces in Australia are usually for own use and to export for consumption in overseas. The primary energy production
The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. While the price of natural gas per barrel continues to plummet, the United States is constantly seeking new sources of renewable energy. Renewable energy consists of any type of natural resource (solar power, ocean power, wind power, rain, snow, etc.). that naturally and automatically replenishes itself. Renewable energy is important because it is infinite and everlasting, meaning our children and our children’s children will be able to utilize these resources long after we are gone.
Geothermal energy is the thermal (heat) energy within the planet. Its is considered a renewable source of energy as it has always been around for for an abundant amount of years it will probably still be used in the next years because its source is the almost unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth's core. Even in geothermal areas dependent on a reservoir of hot water, the volume taken out can be injected, making it a sustainable energy
When coal gets burned they start to release harmful dangerous toxins such as mercury, lead and arsenic that will then escape into the air. It also releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. These emissions increase the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere and lead to global warming.
Geothermal energy is one of the oldest sources of energy. It is simply using and reusing (reusable energy) heat from the inside of the earth. Most of the geothermal energy comes from magma, molten or partially molten rock. Which is why most geothermal resources come from regions where there are active volcanoes. Hot springs, geysers, pools of boiling mud, and fumaroles are the most easily exploited sources. The ancient Romans used hot springs to heat baths and homes, and similar uses are still found in Iceland, Turkey, and Japan. The true source of geothermal energy is believed to come from radioactive decay occurring deep within the earth.
There are atmospheric emissions from geothermal power plants which are predominantly CO2 and H2S. However, in the context of global climate change, geothermal has significantly lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuels. Atmospheric emissions from geothermal plants average only about 5% of the emissions from equivalent generation sized fossil fuel power plants. The actual land use for geothermal energy production is relatively small for both the fuel acquisition and the energy production. The common practice of re-injecting spent geothermal fluids means the impacts on aquatic life have been eliminated. Geothermal plants also co-exist successfully with other land uses.
Furthermore, in 2000, the Harvard School of Public Health looked at the human health effects from two fossil-fuel-fired power plants in Massachusetts. It estimates that the air pollution from the plants causes:159 premature deaths, 1,710 emergency room visits, 43,300 asthma attacks each year (Levy). Without a doubt, burning fossil fuels increases CO2 levels in the atmosphere and causes an increase in atmospheric and ocean temperatures, they also present an endangerment to living organisms. Strangely enough, wind is a form of solar energy.
In same places such as Iceland, hot water comes naturally to the surface as steam, which can drive turbines to generate electricity, Some power stations make use of lava that flows from the volcanos. Despite of few disadvantages, it is an undeniable fact that geothermal energy is an extremely valuable, simple and clean source of energy that can benefit mankind in a big way.
Greenhouse gasses that are released into the air when mining are harmful to the environment and the release of dust particulates negatively affect the ecosystems around the mines. As well as the air pollution there is usually a large amount of noise. In Gauteng large scale mining has caused the dolomite rock to cave in which has resulted in large sinkholes forming and earthquakes.
The cheapest way to generate electricity, today, is hydropower. The reason for that is, once a dam has been constructed and equipment installed, the source of the energy is free. It is a fuel source that is renewable because of things like snow and rainfall. Engineers may control the water flow on demand.
There are different kinds of resources that we can use in order to produce renewable energy. Solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power are just some of the kinds of renewable energy that might be the best options to obtain energy because they come from natural resources. Although renewable energy can be expensive to build, it has less environmental damage in comparison to non-renewable energy. Besides the natural resources such as sun, wind, water and hydrogen, we also have geothermal power, and biofuels as renewable sources.
Energy can be put into two broad categories Renewable energy and none renewable energy. Renewable energy sources can be reused continually as they are abundantly found in nature. All of them are non-polluting but devices used to collect the energy may impact the environment adversely. They are free but producing storage equipment or converting them into another form of energy may be costly.