THIRD QUARTER

EARTH AND SPACE

LESSON 2 – ENERGY FROM VOLCANO
Since our country is a home to more than a
hundred volcanoes, energy has been tapped from
them. Actually, the Philippines ranks second in the
world’s production of geothermal energy.
According to the Department of Energy, 14.4% of
the country’s total power generation is produced
from geothermal energy.
 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
 It is the internal heat of the Earth, left over from its
formation and augmented by ongoing nuclear decay of
elements in the mantle.
 In the context of society, it refers to the portion of this
heat that is available for human exploitation.
 Geothermal areas are thus located at areas of high
geothermal gradient, which typically means, proximal to
volcanoes.
THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM
 COMPONENTS OF THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM

The Heat Source

 The heat source takes the form of a shallow
magmatic intrusion or naturally high geothermal
gradients. This is the only component which has
to be naturally occurring.
 COMPONENTS OF THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM

The Geothermal Fluid

 The geothermal fluid is the vessel of heat and is what
power plants extract to power turbines.
 It refers to groundwater heated (sometimes
superheated) by the source, and is often highly
mineralized, altering and corroding surrounding
rocks.
 COMPONENTS OF THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM

The Reservoir
 The reservoir is a volume of permeable rock
which stores geothermal fluid and can be
exploited at a profit. Artificial reservoirs may be
created with a technique called hydraulic
fracturing.
 THE GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

Power Plants extract geothermal fluids by drilling

production wells into the reservoir.
The loss of pressure at the surface and the fluid’s
temperature turns the fluid into steam; this steam is used to
drive turbines and generate electricity.
Used geothermal fluid is cooled and condensed back into
the water, which is either dumped at the surface or injected
back underground using re-injection wells.
THE GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT
 THE GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT
 The following steps are followed to generate electricity in a geothermal
power plant:
1. Wells are drilled deep into the Earth to pump steam or hot water to the
surface.
2. When the water reaches the surface, the drop in pressure causes the water to
turn into steam.
3. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces
the electricity.
4. Cooling tower cools the steam which is condenses back to water.
5. The cooled water is pumped back into the Earth to begin the process again.
 GEOTHERMAL PLANT IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 Power plants are built in an area where it is particularly
hot just below the surface such as near a group of geysers,
hot springs, or volcanic activity.
 In the Philippines, the first geothermal plant was a 2.5 kW
pilot plant at barrio Cale in Tiwi, Albay put up in 1967.
 The first commercial plant in operation was the 3MW
pilot plant in Tongonan, Leyte.
 GEOTHERMAL PLANT IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 At present, the Philippines is the second largest producer of
geothermal power in the world behind the USA, providing
12.2% of the country’s electricity.
 At present, there are eight producing geothermal fields around
the country, with 31 service contract areas in pre-development.
 Producing fields include Makban in Laguna and Quezon; Tiwi,
Albay; Bacman in Sorsogon; Tongonan, Leyte; Palinpinon,
Negros Oriental; the Northern Negros
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GEOTHERMAL
PLANTS

ADVANTAGES:
- Geothermal energy is an attractive business
venture due to its low cost.
- Geothermal energy is also renewable,
relying on the practically limitless heat of the
Earth.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GEOTHERMAL
PLANTS
 DISADVANTAGES:
- Geothermal fluids are pollutants, containing dissolved
metals and ions and having higher temperatures.
- Improper handling may contaminate water tables or surface
waters.
- These fluids contain greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, among others.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GEOTHERMAL
PLANTS
 DISADVANTAGES:
- Power plants require large areas of cleared land for pipelines
and drilling rigs. Careless extraction can empty a reservoir.
- Over-extraction and hydraulic fracturing can generate
earthquakes in the vicinity.
HOW DO VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS AFFECT
SOCIETY?
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS:
•Loss of lives
•Destruction of properties
•Death of Organisms
As lava flows or pyroclastic materials are ejected in the air, they can
destroy anything on their way.
 MT. PINATUBO
ERUPTION

DURING

AFTERMATH OF THE
ERUPTION
 1991 MT. PINATUBO ERUPTION

one of the longest volcanic eruptions, has caused the

decrease in the Earth’s surface temperature for almost
two years. The strong winds during its eruption spread
the aerosol particles from the plume around the globe.
The result was a measurable cooling of the Earth’s
surface for a period of almost two years.
 POSITIVE EFFECTS;

• Decrease in the Earth’s temperature

• Create a spectacular scenery
• Produce very rich soil for farming
• People became creative
• Provide information about the Earth’s internal
structures
 FERTILE-RICH SOIL BEST
FOR FARMING

MT. PINATUBO CALDERA

FILIPINO CRAFTMANSHIP TURNED
PINATUBO ASHES INTO SOUVENIR
ITEMS
 SIGNS OF AN
IMPENDING VOLCANIC
ERUPTION
 According to the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the
government agency tasked with monitoring
earthquakes and volcanoes in the country, there are
commonly observed signs that a volcano is about to
erupt. These may vary from one volcano to another.
 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

1. Increased in the frequency of volcanic quakes with rumbling

sounds; occurrence of volcanic tremors;
2. Increased steaming activity; change in color of steam emission
from white to gray due to entrained ash;
 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

3. Crater glow due to presence of magma at or near the crater;

 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

4. Ground swells (or inflation), ground tilt and ground fissuring due
to magma intrusion;
 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

5. Localized landslides, rock falls and landslides from the summit

area which not attributable to heavy rains;
 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

6. Noticeable increase in the extent of drying up of vegetation around

the volcano's upper slopes;
 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

7. Increase in the
temperature of hot
springs, wells, (e.g.,
Bulusan and Canlaon)
and crater lake (e.g.,
Taal) near the volcano;
 SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

8. Noticeable variation in the chemical

content of springs, crater lakes within
the vicinity of the volcano;
9. Drying up of springs/wells around the
volcano; and
10. Development of new thermal areas and/or reactivation
of old ones; appearance of solfataras.