It’s Getting Hot In Here
How Large-Scale Geothermal Projects Could Eliminate Reliance on Fossil Fuels. by Sarah Polyakov
Most of us are familiar with the fact that countries like Iceland that contain active volcanism just beneath the surface have harnessed the clean energy of steam to power their countries. While in the United States we have relied on some solar power and wind systems to create a few and scattered clean power systems, we have not considered the potential for geothermal energy. However, in some areas of the country, such as on the East Coast, our power grid is outdated. Whether we like it or not, we will soon be asked to think creatively to find new sources of energy.
Back to the Future
In the past, steam was widely used to power locomotive engines. In terms of geothermal energy, the same principle applies. Geothermal heat is used to boil water and this process produces enough energy to power large turbines, which in turn produce large amounts of electricity. Unlike the past, we will not require coal to heat steam, so the steam power of the future will be 100% clean and clean energy benefits us all.
The Temperature Is Rising
The good news is countries like Switzerland and now Spain are experimenting with geothermal power systems that have the potential to literally end the dependence on fossil fuels overnight. Spain has begun to create an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) that has the potential to produce 700 gigawatts of power per day. To put this in perspective, power plants within the United States generate about 1,000 gigawatts of power per day to meet the needs of customers during the summer when usage peaks.
A Groundbreaking Idea
The earth’s core is just about as hot as our sun, and the heat produced from the earth’s core can be harnessed at relatively shallow depths. For example, on average, enough geothermal energy to power all of Spain could be reached by drilling three miles beneath the surface of the earth. While it may not seem possible to drill to this depth, the technology already exists and is currently in use by petrol companies. In fact, since the minimum temperature required to provide energy for EGS is 300 degrees, such heat could be found at more shallow depths, less than one mile beneath the surface of the earth in some areas.
Too Hot to Handle
For some countries though, drilling to such depths may not be possible. In this case, other measures of harnessing heat from the surface of the earth are also being developed. While they may not be effective enough to power an entire country, it is probable they could power entire cities. In fact, the energy that could be collected from the earth’s surface without drilling would produce enough power to be equivalent to three nuclear power plants.
Finding alternative energy sources and especially clean alternative energy sources, benefit all of us. With a lot of creativity, innovation, and possibly a little luck, clean geothermal energy could be the very thing that both heats your home and keeps it cool.
