Geothermal Power: Clean, Lasting Power Today
Geothermal power comes from energy located inside of the earth itself in order to give clean, renewable energy without adding to climate change. It is more cost effective as well as scalable than wind generators and solar panels and is actually a lot safer than nuclear fission. So when looking for an option to fossil energy sources, give geothermal power a chance.
Envision a future totally free of traditional energy sources, a world where all of us are not shackled by oil or harming the atmosphere by burning coal. With geothermal power this vision is possible today. Geothermal energy operates by tapping into the power of the earth itself in order to create clean, reliable power which does not use natural resources and will be around for future years. Plus, as opposed to fossil fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a really important tool in the battle against climate change.
But how does geothermal power work and what makes this any better than various other forms of renewable power like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put this simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the actual energy absorbed daily by the sun, the earth’s core has adequate energy left over from its formation and from the radioactive decay of elements to cover the complete human population’s power consumption numerous times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this power by drilling deep below the planet’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then warmed naturally and the energy is changed into electrical energy. They produce serious quantities of electrical power too, with 10 gigawatts produced in 2007. Even though this is actually just a small quantity of the global total, geothermal power use is increasing daily as more and more countries change over to environmentally friendly sources of electrical power.
In contrast to nuclear energy plants, geothermal wells create absolutely no hazardous radioactive waste materials that needs to be transported and stored and it offers advantages over other non-fossil fuel sources as well. Solar panels and wind turbines, while still excellent sources of renewable power, are costly and can not be scaled up to the extent that geothermal power plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small device created to power a single home to big utility plants that can power an entire city. In addition it is a time tested technology that has been around for millennia. In fact, the Romans even relied on geothermal wells to heat their famous baths and floors such as those found in Bath in Somerset. The ancient Chinese dynasties tapped into the power of hot springs as well and took advantage of the therapeutic qualities that the warmth provided.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to provide in an increasingly sustainable culture. It is entirely renewable, produces very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost effective method of generating electricity without contributing to global warming. For these reasons geothermal energy is considered a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and especially fossil fuels as an energy source.
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