What is Geothermal Energy?

​ (alexi)
Geothermal energy, form of energy conversion in which heat energy from within Earth is
captured and harnessed for cooking, bathing, space heating, electrical power generation, and
other uses.
(​https://www.britannica.com/science/geothermal-energy​)

It is simply power derived from the Earth’s internal heat. This thermal energy is contained in the
rock and fluids beneath Earth’s crust. It can be found from shallow ground to several miles
below the surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma.
(​https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/geothermal-energy/​)

Facts about Geothermal Energy (Julyane)

● Geothermal energy is made inside the Earth.

● The world geothermal comes from Greek words meaning ‘Earth’ (geo) and ‘heat’

(thermos).

● While the technology behind geothermal electricity generation has improved

substantially, it still only provides a fraction of world electricity generation.

● Geothermal power is clean, reliable, and cost-effective but its availability is often limited

to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.

● Geothermal power plants in the Philippines and Iceland contribute around 30% of

electricity production for these countries. In the US it is less than 1%.

● As of 2010, 24 countries use geothermal power to generate electricity; around 70 use it

for various forms of heating.

● Humans have enjoyed geothermal energy in the form of hot springs for thousands of

years.

● The oldest known spa fed from a hot spring is believed to be a stone pool found on Lisan

Mountain in China, built in the 3rd century BC.

● In some parts of Iceland, hot water runs from geothermal power plants under pavements

and roads to help melt ice.

History of Geothermal Energy (Julyane)

History says that the first use of geothermal energy occurred more than 10,000 years ago in

North America by American Paleo-Indians. People used water from hot springs for cooking,

bathing and cleaning.

The first industrial use of ​geothermal energy​ began near Pisa, Italy in late 18th century. Steam

coming from natural vents (and from drilled holes) was used to extract boric acid from the hot

pools that are now known as the Larderello fields.

In 1904, Italian scientist Piero Ginori Conti invented the first geothermal electric power plant in

which steam was used to generate the power.

With the above experiment, the first geothermal plant in USA started in 1922 with a capacity of

250 kilowatts. It produced little output and due to technical glitch had to be shut down. However,

in 1946 first ground-source geothermal heat pump installed at Commonwealth Building in

Portland, Oregon

During the 1960’s, pacific gas and electric began operation of first large scale ​geothermal power

plant​ in San Francisco, producing 11 megawatts. Today there are more than 60 geothermal

power plants operating in USA at 18 sites across the country.

In 1973, when oil crisis began many countries began looking for renewable energy sources and

by 1980’s​geothermal heat pumps​ (GHP) started gaining popularity in order to reduce heating

and cooling costs.

As effect of climate change started showing results, governments of various countries joined

hands to fight against it, for which Kyoto Protocol was signed in Japan in 1997, laid out emission
targets for rich countries and required that they transfer funds and technology to developing

countries, 184 countries have ratified it.

Geothermal power today supplies less than 1% of the world’s energy in 2009 needs but it is

expected to supply 10-20% of world’s energy requirement by 2050. Geothermal power plants

today are operating in about 20 countries which are actively visited by earthquakes and

volcanoes.

Different Geothermal Resources​ (Angela)

Enhanced Geothermal Systems:

EGS provide geothermal power by tapping into the Earth's deep geothermal resources that are
otherwise not economical due to lack of water, location, or rock type. The U.S. Geological
Survey estimates that potentially 500,000 megawatts of EGS resource is available in the
western U.S. or about half of the current installed electric power generating capacity in the
United States.

Low-Temperature and Co-Produced Resources:

Low-temperature and co-produced geothermal resources are typically found at temperatures of
300F (150C) or less. Some low-temperature resources can be harnessed to generate electricity
using binary cycle technology. Co-produced hot water is a byproduct of oil and gas wells in the
United States. This hot water is being examined for its potential to produce electricity, helping to
lower greenhouse gas emissions and extend the life of oil and gas fields​.

How does the system work?

1. Water is sent through the injection well and reaches the hot rocks underground and is
heated.
2. Hot water is pumped from deep underground through the production well under high
pressure.
3. When the water reaches the surface, the pressure is dropped, which causes the water to
turn into steam.
4. The steam goes into the separator to be cleaned from brine and dirt which could
damage the turbines.
5. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces electricity.
6. The steam cools off in a cooling tower and condenses back to water.
7. The cooled water is pumped back into the injection well to begin the process again.
(Main Parts)
● Production Well - source of steam
 ● Separator - used to separate non condensable gases and dirt which could damage the
turbines
● Steam Turbine - converts geothermal energy to mechanical energy
● Generator - converts mechanical energy to electricity (connected to turbines)
● Condenser - cools the steam and turns it back to water
● Injection Well - delivers cooled water back underground for reheating

Electricity Generation (Angela)

Geothermal power plants use steam to produce electricity. The steam comes from reservoirs of
hot water found a few miles or more below the earth's surface.

The steam rotates a turbine that activates a generator, which produces electricity. There are
three types of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle.

Dry Steam
Dry steam power plants draw from underground resources of steam. The steam is piped directly
from underground wells to the power plant where it is directed into a turbine/generator unit.
There are only two known underground resources of steam in the United States:

1. The Geysers in northern California

2. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, where there's a well-known geyser called Old
Faithful.
Since Yellowstone is protected from development, the only dry steam plants in the country are
at The Geysers.

Flash Steam
Flash steam power plants are the most common and use geothermal reservoirs of water with
temperatures greater than 360°F (182°C). This very hot water flows up through wells in the
ground under its own pressure. As it flows upward, the pressure decreases and some of the hot
water boils into steam. The steam is then separated from the water and used to power a
turbine/generator. Any leftover water and condensed steam are injected back into the reservoir,
making this a sustainable resource.

Binary Steam
Binary cycle power plants operate on water at lower temperatures of about 225-360°F
(107-182°C). Binary cycle plants use the heat from the hot water to boil a working fluid, usually
an organic compound with a low boiling point. The working fluid is vaporized in a heat
exchanger and used to turn a turbine. The water is then injected back into the ground to be
reheated. The water and the working fluid are kept separated during the whole process, so
there are little or no air emissions.

Geothermal Reservoirs (Angela)

A geothermal reservoir is that part of the Earth's crust from which internal energy content can be
recovered with the help of some reservoir fluid: steam, hot water, or a mixture of both.

The geothermal reservoir is an aquifer with hot water or steam. A geothermal heating system is
illustrated in Figure 16.1. A production well is used to withdraw hot water from the geothermal
reservoir, and an injection well is used to recycle the water. Recycling helps to maintain
reservoir pressure.

If the geothermal reservoir is relatively small, the recycled, cooler water can lower the
temperature of the aquifer. The electric pump in the figure is needed to help withdraw water
because the reservoir pressure in this case is not high enough to push the water to the surface.
Heat from the geothermal reservoir passes through a heat exchanger and is routed to a
distribution network.

Extraction
Three ways:

Dry-steam power stations

Utilize the steam that flows out of geo-deposits to
heat a secondary fluid that turns turbines to generate
electricity. The steam emerges at a temperature of ​at least
150​°C​, This is one of the oldest techniques of geothermal
electricity. The expansion of the secondary fluid produces
mechanical energy needed for turning the turbines to
generate electricity. ​This type of geothermal power plant
was named dry steam since water water that is extracted
from the underground reservoirs has to be in its gaseous
form (water-vapor).
The first one was constructed in Larderello, Italy, in 1904. The Geysers, 22 geothermal power plants 
located in California, is the only example of geothermal dry steam power plants in the United States.

Flash steam power stations

Water in wells under high pressure is drawn to a region
of lower pressure. This pressure shift vaporizes the water
emitting steam at high temperature. This steam is separated
from the water and used to heat up the fluid that turns the
turbines in the generator. At this pressure, the gas is at a very
high temperature. ​Geothermal flash steam power plants use
water at temperatures of at least 182°C​. The term ​flash
steam refers to the process where high-pressure hot water is
flashed (vaporized) into steam inside a flash tank by lowering
the pressure.

Binary cycle power stations

The water-temperature can be as low as 57°C (135°F).
By using a working fluid (binary fluid) with a much lower
boiling temperature than water, thermal energy in the reservoir
water flashes the working fluid into steam, which then is used
to generate electricity with the turbine. The water coming from
the geothermal reservoirs through the production wells is never
in direct contact with the working fluid. After the some of its
thermal energy is transferred to the working fluid with a heat
exchanger, the water is sent back to the reservoir through the
injection wells where it regains its thermal energy.

https://www.saveonenergy.com/how-geothermal-energy-works/

Uses (Direct & Indirect)

Direct​ - geothermal heating (<150 °C) for drying crops, industrial processes, hot water supply,
melting snow, space heating (using heat pumps)
Indirect​ - electricity production (source > 150 °C) using the steam to drive turbines connected to
a generator.

Cost
● Most of the cost is related to resource exploration and plant construction
● Operation and maintenance cost is relatively low
● Exploration wells costs upto $8million each with no guaranteed success

Advantages (alexi)
1. Geothermal Energy Sourcing Is Good for the Environment - geothermal energy is extracted
from the earth without burning fossil fuels, and geothermal fields produce practically no
emissions. It does not produce Nitrogen Oxide and Sulfur Dioxide, so less acid rain.

2. Geothermal Is a Reliable Source of Renewable Energy - It is an exceptionally constant

source of energy, meaning that it is not dependent on neither wind nor sun, and available all
year long. Although geothermal energy is not renewable, the available resource is large. ​The
hot water or steam used is returned to the ground after it is used where it can be used
again

3. High Efficiency of Geothermal Systems - Geothermal heat pump systems use 25% to 50%
less electricity than conventional systems for heating or cooling, and with their flexible design
they can be adjusted to different situations, requiring less space for hardware as opposed to
conventional systems.

4. Little to No Geothermal System Maintenance - Heat pump pipes even have warranties of
between 25 and 50 years, while the pump can usually last for at least 20 years.

5. Requires relatively less land

(​https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/04/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-geothermal-ene
rgy​)

Disadvantages (alexi)
1. Environmental Concerns about Greenhouse Emissions - The extraction of geothermal energy
from the grounds leads to a release of greenhouse gases like hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide,
methane and ammonia. However, the amount of gas released is significantly lower than in the
case of fossil fuels

2. Possibility of Depletion of Geothermal Sources

3. High Investment Costs for Geothermal System (resource exploration and plant construction)

4. Land Requirements for Geothermal System to Be Installed

5. Surface instability - Can induce earthquakes

(​https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/04/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-geothermal-ene
rgy​)

Barriers
● Finding suitable build location
● Exploration Stage is very costly and of high risk
● Electricity prices would have to increase by 25% (EGS) to make it profitable
● Some areas fit to be a reservoir are located in harsh areas or high up a mountain
● Harmful gases can escape within the earth (Hydrogen sulfide, methane, sulfur dioxide)

Conclusion / Summary (D.)

Geothermal energy is heat derived within the sub-surface of the earth. Water and/or steam carry
the geothermal energy to the Earth's surface. Depending on its characteristics, geothermal
energy can be used for heating and cooling purposes or be harnessed to generate clean
electricity.
​https://www.irena.org/geothermal

https://www.slideshare.net/nibeditamishra/presentation-on-geothermal-energy-24231365
https://www.slideshare.net/NAMRATABORDOLOI/geothermal-energy-presentation-70313
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https://www.slideshare.net/parashararchit/geothermal-energy-14994914
https://www.scribd.com/doc/38251690/Geothermal-Energy-PPT
https://prezi.com/te2d8hwkhffz/geothermal-energy-powerpoint-2012/