Connect with us

Green & Energy

Geothermal Energy Is A Growing Source Of Renewable Energy

Although renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power tend to receive the most public attention, geothermal energy is growing in popularity as a green energy source throughout Europe. Germany, for example, is working towards providing all of the country’s energy needs from geothermal energy. The UK, although not as ideally situated as Germany in terms of geology, still contains sufficient geothermal potential that officials estimate that this type of energy could in time supply one fifth of the UK’s total power.

Geothermal Energy Is A Growing Source Of Renewable Energy

What is Geothermal Energy?

The deeper you progress towards the centre of the Earth, the hotter it gets. There is a lot of hot water and steam located deep under the Earth’s surface that is contained in geothermal reservoirs and is accessible by drilling. Near the Earth’s surface, the ground maintains a relatively constant temperature of approximately 10 to 16 degrees Celsius year-round. The heat contained in both of these areas of the Earth is accessible in order to supply energy that can generate electricity or directly heat and cool buildings.

Geothermal plants can exist anywhere there are reservoirs of steam or hot water in the ground. In Europe, the underlying geology of the region means that most geothermal plants tap into the heat stored in shallow ground, which is the upper 3 meters of the Earth’s surface. Even though 10 to 16 degrees Celsius may not seem very hot, use of a heat exchanger makes these temperatures sufficient for heating buildings in the winter or cooling them in the summer. This type of geothermal heat is harnessed with a geothermal heat pump system for heating and cooling buildings. The geothermal heat pump system consists of a heat pump, an air delivery system, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a series of pipes that is the key to this energy source, as it allows the heat to be moved between water and air. The heat pump can then transfer the heat from the water in the pipes to the air in the building’s air delivery system. In the summer, the heat pump can move heat from the indoor air system into the heat exchanger, and the resulting hot water can be recycled.

The other type of geothermal energy is direct geothermal energy that comes from hot springs or geothermal reservoirs near the Earth’s surface. In this case, hot water is pumped from these reservoirs into buildings to supply heat via a heat exchanger, and the used water is returned to the earth to be naturally reheated and reused. Instead of being pumped directly to buildings, this type of geothermal energy can also be used to generate electricity in a power plant. These geothermal plants are much less common in Europe than heat pump systems due to the geology of the region.

Advantages and Disadvantages

– Completely Renewable.

Harnessing the Earth’s heat for energy does not diminish the heat that is stored in the Earth.

– Not as Noisy as Wind Power.

Unlike wind farms, geothermal plants don’t create vibrations in the air or a loud sound that prevent people from living near them. In this way, geothermal energy is more space-effective than wind power.

– More Available than Solar Power.

Unlike solar power, geothermal energy is still present and available at night and during bad weather. Because the amount of time available for it to be harvested is greater, geothermal energy is also a more efficient energy source than solar power.

– Dependent on Geology.

The availability of geothermal energy varies depending on the geology of the location, making some parts of the country or continent more favourable for geothermal plants than others are.

Author bio

Peter Finchley is a keen observer of the environment who loves solar gadgets and sells solar powered Christmas Fairy Lights sold through his online store.

Recent Posts

Business1 week ago

The Invisible Hands: Unveiling How Food Distributors Influence the Quality of Our Foods

Ever found yourself wondering why the tomatoes in your salad taste particularly fresh or why your preferred brand of coffee...

Marketing1 week ago

Webflow CMS: A Comprehensive Guide

Webflow is a powerful tool that allows you to create and manage dynamic websites without needing to code. It’s a...

Business1 week ago

The Three Most Important Benefits You Should Offer To Your Employees

Offering your employees a range of benefits on top of regular salary increases will really help to show that you...

Business4 weeks ago

Business Tips For Protecting Your Finances During A Recession

In 2024, taking the necessary steps to protect your finances for your business is now more important than ever. The...

Green & Energy1 month ago

Air Conditioning Installation: What You Need to Know

When it comes to getting an air conditioning unit installed, can significantly improve your comfort and home environment, especially during...

Marketing1 month ago

Marketing Tips For A Gym Wear Brand

When starting a gym wear brand, there are a few things you need to do and one of them is...

General2 months ago

Social Media Marketing: What Are All The Types?

Social media marketing is a tool that is a must-have in today’s digital age. it’s very rare that businesses can...

Business2 months ago

How To Become A Property Developer

There are several reasons why an individual will want to become a property developer. One of the main reasons for...

Business3 months ago

Remote Delivery Innovations: Case Studies from Leading E-commerce Brands

People have gone through much change in the past few years when it comes to online shopping. Nowadays, when delivery...

Business3 months ago

Why are Brits turning to online-only banks?

For years, large, conventional banks held all the aces when it comes to citizens’ finances in the UK. HSBC, Lloyds...

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO 5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO
Tech3 months ago

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO

Ever since the birth of search engines, practices in optimising websites for better search rankings have changed considerably. Where it...

SEO4 months ago

The Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses

There are many different types of businesses and all of them will require online marketing however, with a small business,...

General4 months ago

Understanding The Unsung Heroes: Cool Rooms And The Importance Of Regular Repairs

Everybody loves a breath of fresh air when entering a superstore! But have you ever wondered who’s working backstage to...

Home Improvement7 months ago

How To Add More Value To Your Home

If you have some spare cash in the bank, it is likely you would like to spend it on your...

Lifestyle8 months ago

What is a Deep Plane Facelift

Cosmetic surgery is a choice that needs a lot of research and when it comes to thinking about a facelift...

Categories

Archives

Trending