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Geothermal Energy

Lindsey Waress, Jessica Hoffmann, Paul Wrona,

Danielle Mathieson, and Alec Sonderman

Pd. 5

+History The 1st record of geothermal energy being used,

was by the American Paleo-Indians about 10,000 years ago. They used hot springs for bathing and heating.

1800’so Spas and resorts started building near springs, which

they used for baths.

Prince Piero Ginori Contio Successfully lit 4 light bulbs

on July 4, 1904 with the 1st geothermal power generator in Larderello, Italy.

+History

Italy was the only geothermal industrial producer in the world, until New Zealand used flash steam technology for geothermal electricity in its Wairakei station.

The United Stateso Produced their first geothermal power plant

producing 250 kilowatts in 1922.o 1960’s: Had their 1st large-scale power plant which

produced 11 megawatts. This power plant was at The Geysers in California, and Pacific Gad Electric started the project.

+Specific Usesa) We use it for climate control and electricity.

b) How?1. Climate control- 2 ways; acquiring heat from deep

underground or just a few feet underground. 1) Bring the hot air from deep underground through A/C systems to heat buildings greatly. 2) The temperature just below ground is 10° Celsius. During summer, the warm air from the building can be transported underground in exchange for cooler air. During winter, the cold air can be exchanged for the warmer air from underground.

2. Electricity- 2 ways we can harness geothermal energy: steam or hot water. (There are 3 types of power plants: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle, but the last 2 both use hot water.) Steam directly pushes turbines to generate electricity. Water can 1) be transported to power plant and suddenly heated into steam to push turbine or 2) pass through heat exchanger, which will heat another liquid. The 2nd liquid can be converted into steam more easily if it has a lower boiling point than water. (Isobutane has a boiling point of -11.7° Celsius.)

+The 3 Types of Power Plants

+Specific Uses

c) Mainly used to heat (and occasionally cool) houses and businesses. Used to create electricity. Hot water used to heat crops during winter. Can dry fruits, vegetables, wood, and other needed products. Fishing farms use heated water to spur growth rates.

d) Useful/Efficient for heating buildings. Not efficient for generating steam or electricity. (In process of converting hot water to steam, heat/energy is lost. Also, when transporting the steam from underground, some might be lost.)

+Specific Uses

e) Applications1. Climate control- Residences and businesses use

geothermal energy to heat or cool their buildings. They can accurately choose the temperature they want by digging a certain depth in the earth to get the amount of heat that they desire. It is quite efficient.

2. Electricity- Geothermal energy can generate electricity at power plants. (3 types: dry steam, flash steam, or binary cycle.) By using steam directly or water converted into steam, turbines are pushed to create electricity. Not efficient since converting water to steam means losing heat and energy.

3. Drying materials- By using the dry and hot air acquired from underground, materials (fruits, vegetables, wood, etc.) can be dried Not efficient because the steam/heat can be lost in transition or conversion.

+Specific Uses

f) Yes, it is used to produce electricity.

g) Yes, it is used to produce heat.

h) The only objects (machines) it is used to move are turbines.

i) Enhanced Geothermal Systems are being researched. They’re used to harness energy in “dry” areas (where water/stream cannot easily be circulated back to the surface; accounts for 90% of the Earth). High-pressure water breaks up the rock protecting the heat. Water is then sent down towards the broken-up hot rocks to create steam and push turbines.

+The Function of Geothermal

Changing Throughout History

1970’so The development of the binary cycle power plant. This type

of plant enables the use of cooler geothermal reservoirs with dry steam and flash steam plants.

1980’so These binary cycles were producing up to 50 megawatts.

1990’so The United States identified more than 9 thousand thermal

wells and springs and 271 communities connected to geothermal energy.

+Cost of Geothermal Energy

The funds needed to support a geothermal power plant are greatest when the plant is first built. The cost at this time is $2,500 per kW.

Consumer cost:o Between $0.03 and $0.05 per kWh

The cost for maintenance after the initial startup:o Between $0.01 and $0.03 per kWh

Overall, geothermal energy is more cost-effective than other sources of energy, even coal. However, high startup prices are often what keep new plants from being built.

+Level of Efficiency Very efficient, more so than even other

alternative energy sources.

Capacity factor for a geothermal power plant:o 63%

Capacity factor of a wind turbine:o Between 20% and 40%

+Locations The top 3 countries that use the most geothermal energy:

o China• Most of the energy is stored in Central Eastern China.• Sedimentary with 49.17 billion cubic meters of underground

hot water.o United States• The most geothermal reservoirs of

hot water are located in the western states: Alaska, Chena Hot Springs, and Hawaii.

o Iceland• Basically a crack in the Earth’s

crust where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart, so shallow plumes of magma heat up underground reservoirs of water.

+Positive Effects on the Environment Renewable, “green” energy

o Can save money because it cuts down the use of fossil fuels.

Unlimited potentialo It will always be around and only scientists can

predict new ways to harness and use this energy.

+Negative Effects on the Environment

The new equipment to start geothermal energy projects can get very pricy, very fast.

Larger projects can lead to earthquakes.o Switzerland’s geothermal power plant triggered 3.4

magnitude earthquake in January 1997.

The geothermal system requires a large area to be able to dig out and lay pipes out.

+Future Plans to Produce New

Types of Energy

It is estimated by engineers; by 2020, man-made reservoirs will possibly by the source for about 5% to 10% of the world’s total electricity.

They want to enhance the reservoir water and permeability to increase the amount of steam available, which would make producing electricity more efficient.

It depends on 3 factors to know the future length of time left to be able to use geothermal energy:o The demand for energy.o The amount of available geothermal resources.o The competitive position of geothermal energy compared to

other alternative energy sources.

+Reasons for Continuing

Geothermal Usage

Geothermal heating costs are about 30% to 60% lower than traditional heating.

Environmentally friendly which reduces green house gas emissions.

Clean:o Does not emit harmful gases or odors.

Comfortable temperature control for homeowners that use it for heating.

Can also provide air-conditioning for homeowners since it’s a source of energy.

+Reasons for Continuing

Geothermal Usage No need to store fuel, which

means it’s safe because there’s no risk of explosion or exposure to carbon monoxide.

Flexible to use in multiple types of buildings (homes, schools, offices, and community centers). Provides both heating and cooling.

There aren’t any big, bulky, and noisy external compressors. The geothermal systems are completely inside the house (or building).

+Works Cited

1. History

History Of Geothermal Energy. (n.d.). Natural & Renewable Energy Sources - Clean Energy Ideas. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/articles/history_of_geothermal_energy.html

2. Specific Uses

The Uses of Geothermal Energy. (n.d.). Green Living Ideas — Keeping Green Ideas Simple and Down to Earth. Retrieved November 26, 2011, from http://greenlivingideas.com/2007/10/22/the-uses-of-geothermal-energy/

How Geothermal Energy Works | Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d.). UCS: Independent Science, Practical Solutions | Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved November 26, 2011, from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-geothermal-energy-works.html

+Works Cited

3. The Function of Geothermal Changing Throughout History

History of Geothermal Power - Earthworm Tunneling. (n.d.). Earthworm Tunneling and Hot Rocks Power Cooperative Alternative Energy Sites. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.earthwormtunneling.com/geo_history.html

4. Cost of Geothermal Energy

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (n.d.). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.eia.gov/

+Works Cited

5. Level of Efficiency

Amsoil, p. O. (n.d.). Alternative Energy Resources. Alternative Energy Resources. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.alternative-energy-resources.net/

Energy Basics: Geothermal Technologies. (n.d.). U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Home Page. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/geothermal.html

+Works Cited

6. Locations

China’s Geothermal: Overview and Current Problems | DeBlock Consulting Ltd.. (n.d.). Let DeBlock Consulting Ltd. help you enter or expand your business in the Chinese market.. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://deblockconsulting.com/blog/china-news/chinas-geothermal-overview-and-current-problems/

Geothermal Energy. (n.d.). Renewable Energy World.com. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy

natural, t. (n.d.). Alaska has more geothermal resources than any other state in the country. Alaska Center for Energy and Power | Home. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.yourownpower.com/Power/

thermal, f., & plants, e. p. (n.d.). One Hot Island: Iceland's Renewable Geothermal Power: Scientific American. Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=iceland-geothermal-power

+Works Cited

7. Positive Effects on the Environment

&

8. Negative Effects on the Environment

Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons | EnergyInformative.org. (n.d.). EnergyInformative.org. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://energyinformative.org/geothermal-energy-pros-and-cons/

9. Future Plans to Produce New Types of Energy

federal, o. (n.d.). Geothermal Education Office - Geothermal Energy. Geothermal Education Office. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from http://geothermal.marin.org/geoenergy.html

+Works Cited

10. Reasons for Continuing Geothermal Usage

8 Reasons to Develop with Geothermal Energy. (n.d.). Genica Energy. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://genicaenergy.com/whygeothermal