Geothermal Energy Advantages – What are the advantages of Geothermal Energy?

Before decoding the Geothermal energy advantages, It is important to understand the meaning of geothermal energy and its implications

What is Geothermal Energy ?

Geothermal power is power derived from the Earth’s internal heat. These underground reservoirs of steam and hot water are utilized to produce electricity or simply to heat or cool buildings. Geothermal water from deeper in the Earth can be used directly for heating homes and offices, or for growing plants in greenhouses. Some U.S. cities pipe geothermal hot water under roads and sidewalks to melt snow.

As far as the advatages of geothermal energy are concerned, this energy can be extracted without burning a fossil fuel such as coal, gas, or oil. Geothermal fields produce only about one-sixth of the carbon dioxide that a relatively clean natural-gas-fueled power plant produces. Binary plants release essentially no emissions. Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy is always available, 365 days a year. It’s also relatively inexpensive amounting to estimated 80% savings over fossil fuels.

According to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), the geothermal power industry reached about 3,442 MW at the end of 2013. Add to this about 1,000 MW of planned capacity additions under development and about 3,100 MW of geothermal energy resources under development.

Notable Geothermal Energy Advantages includes:

Eco-Friendly – An average geothermal power plant releases the equivalent of 122 kg CO2 for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity it generates – one-eighth of the CO2 emissions associated with typical coal power plants.
Renewable Resource – Naturally replenishing Geothermal reservoirs enable them to last for billions of years according to some scientists.
Enormous potential capacity – Estimates for the potential of geothermal power plants vary between 0.035 to 2 TW.
Stable source – The power output of a geothermal plant can be accurately predicted. Not subject to the same low-energy fluctuations as with solar or wind.
Abundant Supply – With geothermal energy, there are no shortages or other sorts of problems which sometimes occur with other types of power.
Significant Savings for Home Owners – There has been a tremendous increase in the number of homeowners who want to utilize geothermal energy for heating and cooling purposes. The result is that less energy is used for heating homes and offices which results in significant savings for home owners. After the initial expense, a 30-60% savings on heating and 25-50% savings on cooling can cover that cost within few years.

Topic: Geothermal Energy Advantages
Image Source: energy.gov