Geothermal energy is energy in the form of heat contained within the Earth. The molten interior of the Earth continuously produces high temperatures by the slow decay of radioactive particles. This heat rises to the Earth’s crust and mainly occurs in geologically active areas where continental plates meet. This heat can be recovered as steam or hot water and used to heat buildings or generate electricity.
Geothermal power plants rely on the high temperatures (300-700°F) in underground resources to produce steam and generate electricity. The underground reserves are tapped by drilling wells and piping the steam or hot water to the surface. Because the heat energy is stored underground, it is available at any time, unlike solar or wind power.
Geothermal plants are highly reliable facilities and result in relatively few emissions and waste products. One of the main drawbacks to geothermal energy is its higher capital cost compared to many other large-scale generation options. These costs are highly dependent on the site-specific resource and can be heavily impacted by exploration costs from drilling wells to identify viable resource areas. Geothermal resources are also not uniform, making it a viable option only in certain regions.
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