By: Katie Kirkholder Molly Normandin Zack Small Tanner Brooks 7B Where does it come from? The most abundant place to find geothermal energy is Iceland. Geothermal energy is found in the the form of volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers It can also come from miles under ground in the core of the earth. It heats underground water until it turns into steam. The steam bursts through a crack or hole in the Earth’s crust as a geyser or hot spring. http://www.engineering.com/Videos/VideoPlayer/tabid/4627/videoId/649/geothermal-energy-process.a spx What is Geothermal Energy? Geothermal energy is heat stored within the earth. Geothermal energy is clean, reliable, and cost effective. It’s availability is limited to areas near tectonic plates such as California and Nevada. Using the Energy Geothermal energy is used in many ways such as; heating hot water and to generate electricity to power homes and industries. People also use geothermal energy when they bathe in hot springs. Some people believe that bathing in the warm water and breathing the vapors from the hot spring can cure some diseases. How it is made? The energy is made deep beneath the earth’s crust. The earth has many layers, one being the iron core, which is the center of the earth. Geothermal energy is not “made”, It is harvested from geothermal heat vents, which are mostly found in California, Nevada, and Oregon. If the harvesters or the people collecting the energy find a very hot rock, they can pour water to create the steam they need to create the electricity. Pros It is a sufficient and cost efficient form of energy. There are lots of geothermal heat vents in hot places, though this also may be a con because they can still get solar energy from the sun in these hot places. Another advantage of geothermal energy is the environment friendliness. A very important pro is the reliability of this form of energy Cons Some of the environmental dangers of geothermal energy are: Land subsidence Production of waste water with high mineral content Disposal of hot water in the conversion process Then there is the release of toxic gases such as: Hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and Boron. The cost of geothermal energy At The Geysers, power is sold at $0.03 to $0.035 per kWh. A power plant built today would probably require about $0.05 per kWh. Some geothermal energy plants can charge more. Ways it can be distributed Vertical Loop Open loop Horizontal loop Pond loop The way it is distributed. Geothermal heat pumps are environmental. They generate no on site emissions and have the lowest emission among all heating and cooling technologies. Geothermal heat pump systems, also known as "geothermal," are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Fun Facts Geothermal energy supplies less than 10% of the world's energy. Geothermal energy is sustainable because hot water can be re-injected into the ground. Geothermal energy can be found in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers. Geothermal energy is used since ancient times in form of hot water. Geothermal energy could produce 10 percent of US electricity by the year 2050. More Fun Facts Geothermal energy can be easily found and exploited along the "Ring of Fire" region. Geothermal energy is extremely efficient (almost 100%) energy source where the only real sources of losing energy is from turbine friction. Geothermal energy has only one real problem and that is the lack of easily accessible sites. Geothermal energy's advantage is also the fact that geothermal power plants run continuously day and night with an uptime typically exceeding 95%. Time to take a Quiz! http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00281/english /stopics/interactive/geoquiz.htm Use the information you learned in the power point to answer these simple 5 questions. Bibliography "Geothermal." EIA Energy Kids -. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=geothermal_home-basics-k.cfm>. "Geothermal Energy Facts." Alternative Energy Sources for Your Home. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.affordable-alternative-energy.com/geothermal-energy-facts.html>. "Geothermal Energy Facts." Natural & Renewable Energy Sources. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/articles/geothermal_energy_facts.html>. "Geothermal Energy Quiz." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00281/english/stopics/interactive/geoquiz.htm>. Gibson, Diane. Geothermal Power. Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2002. Print. "PDFCLOUD.NET." Geothermal Energy Facts. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://conserve-energyfuture.com/GeothermalEnergyFacts.php>. "Puna Geothermal VentureHawaii." Puna Geothermal Venture: Where Does Geothermal Energy Come From? Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.punageothermalventure.com/Faqs/8/where-does-geothermal-energycome-from>. Web. <www.blogspot.com>. Web. <www.ucsusa.com>. "Welcome to Our Web Page." SCIENCE KIDS. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.sciencekids.com/>.