GEOTHERMAL
ENERGY
By Tripp, Isabelle, Maria,Varun
Is Geothermal Energy used globally?
-Yes, it supplies more than 10,000mw to 24 countries world wide
-The Philippine islands are the world’s second largest producer of geothermal
energy behind the US.
-Geothermal energy usage is expected to rise in the coming years.
Geothermal energy is used for…
1. Generating
electricity
2. heating and
cooling buildings
3.Warming water
for bathing and
swimming
Amount of Geothermal Energy Produced Worldwide
This graph shows that in the last 50 years. The amount of the geothermal energy that has been
produced has jumped dramatically. In 1950, the amount of geothermal energy was only around
250 megawatts. By 1975, that number was up to 1500. By the new millennium, the amount of
geothermal energy produced was over 8000.
Amount of Geothermal Energy Produced by Country
According to the graph, around 50% of all geothermal energy produced by just two
countries: the United States and the Philippines. While the geothermal energy production
of every other country in the world is just enough to equal that production
How is geothermal energy used
in technology
In the video you will see the
 http://geothermal.marin.org/video/vid production of geothermal
_pt3.html
Geothermal Technology
-Traps heat beneath the earths
surface to generate electricity
- In the future, the intense heat deep
below the surface will retrieve data
for the electricity generation and help
advanced engineering of reservoirs
all around the country
energy and how it is used in
various ways. It shows three
main methods binary, flash
and dry. Geothermal energy
is a clean source with no
emitting toxins and can
almost always be renewed.
Heating and electricity production from
Geothermal
energy
This picture shows heat and electricity produced for a home from a small
yet powerful geothermal plant. The heat energy created in geothermal
energy allows it to double in floor heating and household electricity
Consumption of Geothermal Energy
This graph shows a
trend in GE production
over the last forty
years. Meaning that
more and more people
are now depending on a
renewable energy
source in Geothermal
energy to power their
homes, offices, and
more. The amount of
GE energy consumed
has gone from nearly
nothing to around 300
quadrillion BTU (British
Thermal Units) per year.
http://www.homemadeenergyreview.com/geothermal-energy-overview/
How using Geothermal Energy helps
This table shows what
happens when people
use geothermal energy.
In short, it saves 4.31
lbs. of nitrous oxide per
megawatt hour, and
nearly 78,000 tons of
sulfur dioxide. No
particulate matter is
released. 16 million tons
of carbon dioxide is
saved per year by using
geothermal energy.
This is how geothermal
energy helps when it is
used.
http://geoenergy.org/reports/environmental
%20guide.pdf
Emission
Nitrous
Oxide
(Nox)
Sulfur
Dioxide
(SO2)*
Particulate
Matter
(PM)
Carbon
Dioxide
(CO2)
Sample
Impacts
• Lung
irritation
• Coughing
• Smog
formation
• Water
quality
deterioration
• Wheezing
• Chest
tightness
• Respiratory
illness,
• Ecosystem
damage
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Atmospheric
deposition
• Visibility
impairment
Global
warming
produced by
CO2
increases…
• Sea level
• Flood risk
• Glacial
Melting
Geothermal
emissions
(lb/MWh)
0
0 – 0.35
0
0 – 88.8
Coal
emissions
(lb/MWh)
4.31
10.39
2.23
2,191
Emissions
Offset by
Geothermal
Use (per yr)
32 thousand
tons
78 thousand
tons
17 thousand
tons
16 million tons
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Geothermal Energy
Advantages
 Geothermal energy heat
pumps can pay for
themselves in as little as
two years.
 Main emission is water
vapor.
 With the current usage of
geothermal energy, 5.8
million tons of CO2 has
been saved.
Disadvantages
 Extremely expensive upfront
cost to install ground-source
heat pumps.
 Is not a large-scale
replacement to classic energy
sources. Can only be used for
individual buildings.
 Still requires electricity to
work.
http://geothermalenergyprosandcons.com/
This picture very heavily explains the technology
and production of geothermal energy. It shows the
process and then explains a variety of
significances. Geothermal energy is heat that can
be converted into electricity or remain heat. It can
also be produced in three ways binary, flash, and
dry.
Geothermal Energy vs. Fossil
Fuels
 Geothermal energy is produced in 3 different ways: Dry, Binary, and
Flash
 Flash method happens the water is stored in a well, then the heated
water will rise due to pressure, as the water turns into steam, the
steam powers the generator, producing electricity.
 Binary Cycles operate on water greater than 220 degrees (F) these
plants use the heat from water to heat a liquid. This liquid is
vaporized to create energy for a turbine.
 On the other hand, fossil fuels are burned to generate fuel, which
contributes to many problems.
Pictures of Geothermal
Energy on public lands
Comparison of Energy costs
Geothermal energy remains highly competitive
to natural gas. $88 MW/h from geothermal,
whereas natural gas costs $101 per MW/h. the
cost of the geothermal won’t fluctuate over
time, but fossil fuels will steadily increase.
B I B L O G R A P HY
-"Functioning principles of a near-surface geothermal energy
station | Agentur für ErneuerbareEnergien."
Startseite | Agentur
für ErneuerbareEnergien. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.unendlich-vielenergie.de/en/details/browse/6/article/226/functioning-principles-of-anear-surface-geothermal-energystation.html>.
-"Geothermal Education Office." Geothermal Education Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Jan.
<http://geothermal.marin.org/video/vid_pt3.html>.
-"Glogster - join the visual communication network ." Glogster - join the
2013.
<http://glogster.com>.MLA formatting by BibMe.org.
2013.
visual communication network . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Jan.
-"NREL: Geothermal Technologies Home Page." National Renewable Energy
n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.nrel.gov/geothermal/>.
Laboratory (NREL) Home Page. N.p.,
-“Geothermal basics current use.”Geothermal energy association. N.p., n.d. Web.
energy.org/currentuse.aspx>.
18 December 2012 <http;//www.geo-