Geothermal

Energy
Geophysical
Concepts,
Applications
and
Limitations
 Geothermal Energy 

• Geothermal energy is heat derived within the sub-surface of the earth.

• Water and/or steam carry the geothermal energy to the Earth's surface.
• Depending on its characteristics, geothermal energy can be used for
heating and cooling purposes or be harnessed to generate clean
electricity with minimal environmental impacts.
• Geothermal energy is a renewable resource, because its source is the
almost unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth's core.
• Even in geothermal areas dependent on a reservoir of hot water, the
volume taken out is naturally reinjected to make it a
sustainable energy source.
• Geothermal energy - the most promising form of renewable energy which
has been proven to be reliable, clean and safe,
 GEOTHERMAL Resource Requirements

• A geothermal resource requires fluid, heat and permeability in order

to generate electricity:
• Fluid—Sufficient fluid must exist naturally or be pumped into the
reservoir.
• Heat—The earth's temperature naturally increases with depth and
varies based on geographic location.
• Permeability—In order to access heat, the fluid directly exchange
heat from heated rock, either via natural fractures or through
stimulating the rock.
 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
• Heat energy of the earth, generated by various natural
processes, such as:
1. Direct use of Geothermal Energy
i. Hot springs use geothermal pumps.
ii. Heating water at fish farms,
iii. Hot water near the earth's surface is piped and circulated around the
buildings to provide heat.
2. Indirect use of Geothermal Energy 
iv. Electricity generation; 3 types of power plants are common,
GENERATION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

4. Volcanoes and hot springs

1 Origins of geothermal energy
Mechanisms of heat transport in the earth

1) Heat transport by conduction

Fourier’s law

Thermal conductivity of rocks

Temperature variation in geothermal systems

Use of geothermal energy from Surficial geology, hydrothermal and

Dry Steam power plants use hydrothermal fluids e.g., primarily steam.
• Steam flows directly to a turbine, which drives a generator that
produces electricity.
• Steam eliminates the need to burn, transport and store fossil fuels to
operate turbines.
Flash steam power plants, use high-pressure hot water from deep
inside the earth and convert it to steam to drive generator turbines.
• When the steam cools, it condenses to water and is injected back into
the ground to be used again.
• Most geothermal power plants are flash steam plants
 Binary cycle power plants
• Heat from the geothermal fluid causes the secondary fluid to flash to vapor, which
then drives the turbines and subsequently, the generators. 
• Binary cycle power plants are closed-loop systems, and virtually nothing (except
water vapor) is emitted to the atmosphere.
• USA generates maximum geothermal electricity in the world > 3.5 gigawatts,.
• That's enough to power about 3.5 million homes!
Tidal Energy
 Tidal Energy - Sustainable Resource

• All natural energies exploited by human technology originate

directly or indirectly with the Sun, including fossil fuel,
conventional hydroelectric, wind, biofuel, wave and solar
energy.
• The Earth's tides are ultimately due to gravitational
interaction with the Moon and Sun and the Earth's rotation,

• Tidal power is practically inexhaustible and classified as

a renewable energy resource, because gravitational
interaction will remain for ever.
 Tidal Power or Tidal Energy
Tidal power /  Tidal energy, a renewable energy in which tidal
action in the oceans is converted to electric power.

• Tides are created due to gravitational effect of the moon and the

sun on the earth causing cyclical movement of the seas.
• During high tide period, water attains K.E., gravitational, wake’s
energy etc.
• Tidal energy is used to produce clean and pollution
free electricity.
• Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is an additional
energy due to temp. differences (thermal gradients)
between ocean surface waters and deep ocean waters. (the
sun heats up surface water of the ocean.)
 How does a tidal power plant work?
• Tidal barrages are low-walled dams, usually installed at tidal inlets or
estuaries.
• During an incoming high tide, water flows over the turbines as the water
rises.
• Then water flows back through the turbines as it becomes low tide.
• The turbines are connected to generators which produces electricity.

Different tidal power plants

•Single basin-one-way cycle. This is the simplest form of tidal power
plant.
•Single-basin two-way cycle. In this arrangement, power is generated
both during flood tide as well as
•Single –basin two-way cycle with pump storage. ...
•Double basin natural flow.
•Double basin with pumping system
 Technology to Harness Tidal Energy

• A dam is constructed to separate tides from the sea water

level between the basin and sea.
• The constructed basin is filled during high tide season
and fast-flowing water through the channels, rotates
turbine and generator respectively
• There are 3 different ways to get tidal energy: 

• (i) Tidal streams, (ii) barrages, (iii) tidal lagoons.

• Tidal streams
• Tidal energy is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise
and fall of tides.
• There are very few commercial-sized tidal power plants operating in
the world.
• Tidal streams based Tidal Power Plants
Tidal Power Plants
 Barrage Type Tidal Power Plant,
A tidal barrage is a dam-like structure used to capture the energy from the water
moving in and out due to tidal forces.
 Tidal Lagoons Power Plant 
• Tidal lagoons would function much like a barrage.
• Unlike barrages, offshore tidal lagoons are constructed along the
natural coastline.
• A tidal lagoon power plant could also generate
continuous power. The turbines work as the lagoon is filling and
emptying.

Lagoons is a small lake near sea, larger lake or river

Double Lagoons Tidal Power Plant 
 Tidal power has not yet been operational in Pakistan compared to other renewable
energy technologies.
 In Sindh, 2 sites, on Indus delta of 170 km and two to five meters tidal heights at the
Korangi Creek, are available to exploit the tidal energy
 Principle - Variation of tides over a day
• Tidal forces are periodic variations in gravitational attraction exerted by celestial bodies.
• These forces create corresponding motions or currents, causing a temporary increase in
sea level.
• As the Earth rotates, this bulge of ocean water meets the shallow water adjacent to the
shoreline and creates a tide.
• The magnitude and character of this motion reflects the changing positions of the Moon
and Sun relative to the Earth, the effects of Earth's rotation.

• Tidal power is the only technology that draws on energy inherent in the orbital
characteristics of the Earth–Moon–Sun system.
• Nuclear energy makes use of Earth's mineral deposits of fissionable elements, while
geothermal power utilizes the Earth's internal heat, which comes from a combination of
residual heat from planetary accretion (about 20%) and heat produced through
radioactive decay (80%)