Geothermal Energy: Clean, Environmentally Friendly Energy Today
Geothermal power comes from energy kept inside the earth itself to give clean, green energy with out contributing to climate change. It is much more cost effective and also scalable in comparison with wind generators and solar panels and is significantly safer than nuclear fission. So when looking for an alternative to fossil energy sources, give geothermal power a chance.
Picture a future free of fossil energy sources, a world where all of us are not shackled by oil or harming our atmosphere by burning coal. With geothermal energy this vision is achievable today. Geothermal energy works by tapping into the energy of the earth itself in order to produce thoroughly clean, dependable power that does not use natural resources and will always be around for future generations. In addition, as opposed to fossil fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a really essential tool in the fight against climate change.
But exactly how does geothermal power work and also just what makes it any far better than various other types of alternative energy like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put this simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the energy soaked up every day by the sun, the earth’s core has enough energy left over from its formation and from the radioactive decay of elements to cover the entire human population’s energy usage numerous times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this particular power by drilling deep beneath the planet’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then warmed up naturally and the energy is changed into electrical energy. They produce serious quantities of electrical power too, with ten gigawatts created in 2007. Even though this is just a tiny amount of the worldwide total, geothermal energy use is growing daily as more and more countries change over to environmentally friendly sources of electricity.
As opposed to nuclear energy plants, geothermal wells create no dangerous radioactive waste that needs to be transported and stored and it offers benefits over other non-fossil fuel sources as well. Solar panels and wind turbines, while still outstanding sources of renewable energy, are costly and cannot be scaled up to the extent that geothermal power plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small unit created to power a single home to big utility plants that can power an entire metropolis. Plus it is a time tested technology that has been around for millennia. In fact, the Romans even relied on geothermal wells to warm their famous baths and floors such as those found in Bath in Somerset. The early Chinese dynasties tapped into the power of hot springs as well and took advantage of the healing qualities that the heat provided.
As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to give in an more and more sustainable culture. It is completely renewable, produces very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost effective method of producing electricity without contributing to global warming. For these reasons geothermal energy is considered a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and especially fossil fuels as an energy source.
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