Geothermal Energy

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Geothermal Energy: The Answer to the Energy Problem?

Abstract: The global community is currently searching for new sources of energy that are not detrimental to the environment, that are cost effective, and that will be able to provide for the current and future demand for energy. Geothermal energy is one of the promising alternatives to fossil fuels because it releases no toxic or greenhouse gas emissions, its current cost is decreasing yearly, and it is a continuous source of energy. It is a clean and efficient energy source that has the capabilities to provide for a majority of the power used in the residential, commercial, industrial, and electric power sectors. This paper will examine the current and most efficient methods of mass producing geothermal energy, its cost effectiveness, environmental impact of production, the amount of power it can produce, and will determine if geothermal energy could be the answer to the world’s energy problem Introduction: The United States is faced with a major problem: finding new energy sources that would not release pollutants released in the atmosphere. The search has been fruitful, with great development in solar, and wind technologies, but they remain much too expensive to mass produce and both have sporadic productions of energy due to a heavy reliance on the weather. Yet this search has also resulted in the growth and success of geothermal energy, which provides a continuous stream of heat energy from within the Earth. The geothermal field is quickly growing, making this renewable energy source a competitor amongst fossil fuels and a great hope for the future. Background:

Geothermal energy is heat from within the Earth. This heat energy is either steam or hot water that collects ...

... middle of paper ...

...hermal Power Production Jan 16 2008, Mark A. Taylor http://www.geoenergy.org/publications/reports/Geothermal_Production_and_Development_Update_January_16_2008.html

-The State of Geothermal Subsurface Technology Part1, November 2007, Mark A. Taylor -http://www.geo-energy.org/aboutGE/basics.asp

-US Department of Energy: Geothermal Power Plants http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/powerplants.html

-Energy Information Association http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/grothermal.html

-US energy consumption Data tables http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renwables/page/rea_data/rea.pdf

-Geothermal Power- Energy America -http://www.energyamericaini.com/index.php/geo_power/

-National Geothermal Collaborative -Common Questions about Geothermal Energy http://www.geocollaborative.org/publications/common_questions_About_Geothermal_energy.pdf

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