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Geothermal Energy

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(Geothermal energy plant at The Geysers near Santa Rosa in Northern California, Photo courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory)


"Bringing the Earth's Energy into Your Community -- (SMU)"

 

 

- Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy, that is, heat from the earth, can be obtained from a variety of sources: hot water or steam reservoirs deep in the earth obtained through drilling; geothermal reservoirs are located near the earth's surface, and shallow ground near the earth's Relatively constant temperature of 50°-60°F. The diversity of geothermal resources allows them to be utilized on both large and small scales. 

Utilities can use the hot water and steam from the reservoir to drive generators and generate electricity for their customers. Other applications use geothermally generated heat directly for various purposes in buildings, roads, agriculture and factories. Still others use heat directly from the ground to heat and cool homes and other buildings.

 

- Useful Links

 

  • [The International Geothermal Association]: The International Geothermal Association (IGA), founded in 1988, is a scientific, educational and cultural organization established to operate worldwide. It has more than 5,200 members in over 65 countries.
  • [National Renewable Energy Laboratory]: Geothermal Energy Basics: Many technologies have been developed to take advantage of geothermal energy—the heat from the earth. This heat can be drawn from several sources: hot water or steam reservoirs deep in the earth that are accessed by drilling; geothermal reservoirs located near the earth's surface, mostly located in the western U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii; and the shallow ground near the Earth's surface that maintains a relatively constant temperature of 50°–60°F.

 

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