Quarter 3 – Module 4

Geothermal Energy:
Source
z
of
Electricity
 z Learning Objectives:

 explain how a geothermal energy is transformed into

electrical energy;
 illustrate how energy from volcanoes may be tapped for
human use; and
 identify the advantages and disadvantages of using
geothermal energy
 z How is Geothermal Energy
generated?

Geothermal Power
Plants and
Geothermal Heat
Pumps
z
Geothermal Power Plants

the heat from deep

inside the Earth is used
to produce steam to
generate electricity.
z
Geothermal Heat Pumps

use the heat coming from

close to the Earth’s
surface to heat water or
provide heat for buildings.
z

HOW IT
WORKS?
 z
Geothermal Power Plants
 Hot water is pumped from deep underground
through a well under high pressure.
 When the water reaches the surface, the pressure
is dropped, which causes the water to turn into
steam.
 The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to
a generator that produces electricity.
 The steam cools off in a cooling tower and
condenses back to water.
 The cooled water is pumped back into the Earth
to begin the process again.
 z
Geothermal Heat Pumps
 Water or a refrigerant moves through a loop of pipes.

 When the weather is cold, the water or refrigerant heats

up as it travels through the part of the loop that's buried
underground.
 Once it gets back above ground, the warmed water or
refrigerant transfers heat into the building.
 The water or refrigerant cools down after its heat is
transferred. It is pumped back underground where it
heats up once more, starting the process again.
 On a hot day, the system can run in reverse. The water or
refrigerant cools the building and then is pumped
underground where extra heat is transferred to the
ground around the pipes.
z

Types of
Geothermal
Power Plants
 z
Dry Steam Plant

 oldest geothermal
technology, takes
the steam out of
fractures in the
ground and uses it
to directly drive a
turbine.
 z
Flash Plants
pull deep high-
pressure hot water
into cooler low-
pressure water.
The steam that results
from this process is
used to drive the
turbine
 z
Binary Plants

the hot water is passed

by a secondary fluid
with a much lower
boiling point than
water. This causes the
secondary fluid to turn
to vapor, which then
drives a turbine.
 z

Advantages
1. Environmentally Friendly. Geothermal energy is more
environmentally friendly than conventional fuel sources
such as coal and other fossil fuels. Also, the carbon
footprint of a geothermal power plant is low. 
2. Renewable. Geothermal energy is a source of renewable
energy that will last until the Earth is destroyed by the
sun in around 5 billion years. The hot reservoirs within
the Earth are naturally replenished, making it both
renewable and sustainable.
 z

Advantages
3. Huge Potential. Worldwide energy
consumption is currently around 15
terawatts, which is far from the total
potential energy available from geothermal
sources. It is currently estimated that
geothermal power plants could provide
between 0.0035 and 2 terawatts of power.
 z

Advantages
4. Sustainable / Stable. Geothermal provides a reliable
source of energy as compared to other renewable resources
such as wind and solar power. This is because the resource
is always available to be tapped into, unlike with wind or
solar energy.
5. No Fuel Required. Since geothermal energy is a naturally
occurring resource there is no fuel required, such as fossil
fuels that are a finite resource that needs mining or
otherwise extracting from the earth.
 z
Disadvantages
1. Location Restricted. Geothermal plants need to be built
in places where the energy is accessible, which means
that some areas are not able to exploit this resource. 
2. Earthquakes. Geothermal energy also runs the risk of
triggering earthquakes. This is due to alterations in the
Earth’s structure as a result of digging. This problem is
more prevalent with enhanced geothermal power plants,
which force water into the Earth’s crust to open up
fissures to greater exploitation of the resource.
z ACTIVITY: Complete the chart below by writing the
letter of the correct answer to how the heat from the Earth is tapped
as a source of electricity.
z WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
 z
References:
 https://www.google.com/search?
q=heat+pump+gif&rlz=1C1CHBD_enPH906PH906&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir
=UQIuWRDnR8spdM%252CR97g-iw6ooMonM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-
kTPudPgJD_tFgP7EigW0tgFOCOrBA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjS19fA3_fvAhXsKqYKHSvUDLgQ
9QF6BAgKEAE&biw=1707&bih=838&dpr=1.13#imgrc=DzcExim40HHzOM
 Science Learner’s Module 9, First Edition 2014, Reprint, 2017
 https://www.word-search.net/word-search-db/word-search_1195.pdf
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malinao_Volcano#/media/File:Mount_Malinao.jpg
 https://vanderhyde.com/geothermal-systems/
 https://aboitizpower.com/generation/geothermal/#apri
 https://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2000/R0364.PDF
 https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/geothermal-energy/pros-and-cons