ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE: GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy comes from heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. Also known as thermal energy,
geothermal is considered to be an alternative energy because it produces very little greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG), which harm the Earth once it's generated into electricity. Geothermal wells release these greenhouse
gases, but not nearly as much as its fossil fuel counterparts oil and coal.
Alternative energy geothermal is a product from Earth's original formation: radioactive decay of minerals
thanks to volcanic eruptions and solar energy digested and stored from the Earth's surface. Thermal energy is
produced from the continuous conduction of heat that emanates from the Earth's core that moves upward to the
surface. This process is known as the geothermal gradient. If you've ever had the opportunity to bathe in hot
springs, you'll be glad to know that the thermal heat comes from beneath the Earth.
Alternative Energy Geothermal - How can we use it?
Energy producers have been able to convert alternative energy geothermal into electricity. These same
producers have high hopes for geothermal energy because power can be generated 24 hours a day, unlike other
intermittent renewable energies, like wind energy and solar energy.
Geothermal energy can also be used to heat pumps or for other direct uses such as cooling and heating
buildings. The Earth's crust temperature a few feet below is buffered to a constant seven to 14 C (45 to 58 F),
so a liquid can be pre-heated or pre-cooled in underground pipelines, providing no-cost cooling during the
summer, and with a heat pump, heating during the winter months. Other direct uses include aquaculture,
agriculture (greenhouses), and industry.
Alternative Energy Geothermal - How is geothermal electricity produced?
Geothermal energy uses Earth's natural heat to generate electricity. Geothermal plants are built on or near
reservoirs that contain Earth's hydrothermal resources (underground steam and heated water). The heat mining
process begins when drills penetrate these reservoirs to obtain the steam and water to power electricitygenerating turbines.
There are different ways to produce alternative energy geothermal. Two popular processes include:
Flash Steam Geothermal water with temperatures exceeding 350F is extracted under extremely high
pressure by flash steam plants. When the heated water surfaces, a sudden pressure reduction causes some of the
hot water to flash off as steam. This flashed steam operates a generator, at which time, the extracted steam and
water are reintroduced into the geothermal reservoir.
Dry Steam Dry steam is extracted directly from under the earths surface by dry steam plants to operate a
generator. When the steam condenses into water, it is then reintroduced into the alternative energy geothermal
reservoir.
Alternative Energy Geothermal - Is Geothermal Energy a Sustainable Energy Source?
Alternative Energy Geothermal is considered to be sustainable, cost-effective, great for the environment and
reliable. Recent advances in technology have expanded alternative energy geothermal applicable uses (such as
home heating), which could lead to global exploitation. However, advances in technology, cost, government

incentives and implementation of geothermal power projects will determine if alternative energy geothermal
will become a viable global competitor.
Alternative Energy Geothermal - Is Geothermal Energy a Renewable Energy Source?
Scientific evidence shows that geothermal sites can provide heat for many decades, but eventually these specific
locations cool down, which brings into question if alternative energy geothermal truly is a renewable energy
source, since renewables are defined as green energy sources that never deplete.

Geothermal Energy
This is the energy tapped from the heat inside the earth. Hot rocks residing in the core of earth heat water which
emits the surface of the earth with pressure and as steam. This pressurized steam can be used to run steam
turbines to generate electricity.
Advantages of geothermal energy
Similar to other alternative energy sources, geothermal energy source is free of cost.
With a proper power generation system in place, no harmful by-products are produced.
Tidal Power
The surface of earth is 71.11% covered by water bodies especially oceans. The tides in water rise and fall due to
the gravity of sun and moon. Since we know about how the position of moon changes we can predict the rise
and fall of tides. This rise and fall of tides can be utilized by setting up small dams and passing water through
the turbines to generate power.
Advantages of tidal energy
The source of power generation is free and renewable.
The power generated is clean and does not cause any pollution.
Challenges with using alternative energy sources
As promising as the use of alternative sources of energy may sound, it is still under research as to how to tap
energy from these resources in the most efficient and effective way. Although small power generation systems
can be put in place but power production from these resources on a large scale is still a challenge with
hydroelectric power generation being an exception.
Many countries are not yet ready to move from using conventional energy sources to the alternative energy
sources as it involves a huge amount to decommission the old power generation infrastructure and establish a
new infrastructure. Therefore, the shift is ideal to be made in phases.
Why use alternative energy sources?
Alternative energy sources are available free of cost and do not tax the environment for their usage. Power
generation through alternative sources of energy is clean and green. If we shift to use power generated from
these sources, then carbon dioxide emission from the conventional energy sources will be greatly reduced, and

the problem of global warming will be solved in a few years. Also the fast depleting traditional energy sources
can be preserved. Along with air pollution, the use of traditional energy resources also cause soil pollution and
water pollution by releasing various toxins to the land and water. This can also be controlled reasonably.
The damage that we have caused to earth after the industrial revolution is huge and we will have to take action
immediately if we want to keep the planet sustainable for our future generations. The biggest leap that mankind
can take to prevent further damage is to start using alternative energy sources.