GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

GEC 253 (ENERGY AND SOCIETY)

Origin of geothermal energy
Geothermal energy comes from the natural
heat of the Earth primarily due to the decay of
the naturally radioactive isotopes of uranium,
thorium and potassium.
On what scale is the geothermal
energy resource

 Scientists and engineers, estimated that only

1% of the geothermal energy contained in the
uppermost ten kilometres of the Earth’s crust is
500 times the energy contained in all the oil and
gas resources of the world!
 There is immense amount of Geothermal energy
 But there are a number of challenges in

harvesting it.
Structure of the earth
Structure of the earth
 The Core: The core has two layers: a solid
iron core and an outer core made of very hot
melted rock, called magma. The core of the
earth reaches temperatures hotter than the
sun's surface.
 Mantle: The mantle which surrounds the core

and is about 3000 km thick. It is made up of

magma and rock.
Structure of the earth
The Crust: The crust is the outermost layer of
the earth, the land that forms the continents
and ocean floors. It can be 5 to 8 km thick
under the oceans and 25 to 55 km on the
continents.
The earth's crust is broken into pieces called
plates. Magma comes close to the earth's
surface near the edges of these plates. This is
where volcanoes occur. The lava that erupts
from volcanoes is partly magma.
Tapping Geothermal energy
 Deep underground, the rocks and water
absorb the heat from this magma. The heat
energy is either conducted to the surface of
the earth or the hot medium is transferred to
the surface.
Transferred medium Source

Water Hot-spring

Steam Geyser

Volcanic gases Fumarole(holes where volcanic

gases are released)
Tapping Geothermal energy

 In most cases the potential geothermal

resources are buried beneath the earth
surface without any signs/clue.
 Drilling exploration is required to locate such

resources.
Tapping Geothermal energy
 On average, the temperature of the Earth increases
with depth, about 25–30˚C/km above the surface
ambient temperature (called the geothermal gradient).
Thus, assuming a conductive gradient, the
temperature of the earth at 10 km would be over
300˚C. However, most geo-thermal exploration
are carried out where the gradient is higher, and
thus where drilling is shallower and less costly.
World Geothermal Resources
World Geothermal Resources
 Most of the geothermal activity in the world
occurs in an area called the Ring of Fire. This
area is around the pacific plate). Some of the
countries that harness geothermal energy:
 US – 3,093 MW as of 2010.
 Philippines – 1,904 MW.
 Indonesia – 1,197 MW.
 Mexico – 958 MW.
 Italy – 843 MW.
 New Zealand – 628 MW.
 Iceland – 575 MW.
 Japan – 536 MW. And Kenya.
USES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
 Direct Use: which uses hot water from hot
springs or reservoirs near the surface. The
energy can be used for bathing, cooking
and heating.

Electricity generation: requires water or steam

at very high temperature (150 °C to ̴400 °C).
Geothermal power plants are generally built
where geothermal reservoirs are located within
3 km from the surface.
 Heat Pumps
 Geothermal heat pumps: use stable ground
or water temperatures near the earth's
surface to control building temperatures
above ground. Temperature in the upper 3.0
m of the earth crust is nearly constant. In
summer upper earth layer is usually at lower
temperature than the ambient temperature,
therefore heat flows from the surface (e.g.
building) into the earth hence Cooling. In
winter the reverse occur hence Heating.
Geothermal Power Generation

The steam is collected and directed

to a turbo-generator (in dry steam
plants) to generate electricity . The
energy could also be tapped by
pumping water below the surface
to a hot rock region.
Geothermal Power Generation

The injected water turns into

steam and then brought back to
the surface to drive turbines in
order to produce electricity (in
binary power plants)
Properties of Matter
Dry steam power plant
 Advantage of Geothermal Power
Generation
 It is a renewable energy resource

 Does not produce greenhouse gas

emission (very little typical 1 % green
house emissions)

 Does not require large space for

erecting a power plant
 Disadvantage of Geothermal Power
Generation
 Can run out of steam for a period
of a decade (Unreliable)

 Hazardous minerals may be

produced

 Suitable sites for geothermal

energy resource are difficult to
find.