GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy
Geothermal power is power extracted from heat stored in the earth. This energy is accumulated in rocks and ground waters and steam. The temperature in the Earth crust is rising with the deep. Like an average value 30° C/km is used to mention. The temperature grows with the depth and in the Earth’s core it reaches even 5000° C. The temperature increase varies within widely limits depending on where on the Earth you are. In volcanic areas, for example Iceland the increase can amount to more than 100° C/km while the old and stable Scandinavian primary rocks often only reach 15° C
Geothermal energy has a huge potential and could be used alongside intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar. Geothermal energy if properly maintained can sustain enough energy to fill the power requirement of the globe for decades to come. It is said that 70 countries have geothermal water resources, which can be used on the industrial scale. This kind of energy is renewable sustainable.
What can it be used for?
• Heating of Households and other buildings.
• Direct heating of greenhouses.
• Keeping roads free from snow and ice with heat pipes.
• Electricity production with steam turbine and generator.
• Geothermal power plants take advantage of a natural, clean energy source of heat from the Earth’s interior to produce electricity. Under the right geological conditions, the Earthís heat collects in large underground reservoirs of steam or hot water.
How is electricity produces by geothermal energy?
• This energy is tapped by drilling wells into the reservoirs and piping the steam or hot water to power plants, which convert the heat to electricity. The used geothermal water is then reinjected into the reservoir to maintain pressure and to sustain the reservoir.
Advantages of Geothermal Energy
• Geothermal energy is clean, no fuel is burned and therefore there is no by product present, and if the steam emissions are well controlled emission of harmful gases are not present.
• They do not dependent on weather conditions
• Once the drilling in the accessible region is complete, the cost for electricity production is extremely low. Besides the technology and the technical skill needed for drilling is also widely available, making this a good choice for developing countries, where such energy is accessible.
• This energy is environment friendly because it doesn’t cause emission of harmful substances (e.g.. dust, gas) and, therefore, it helps protect nature.
• Underground water can be used in health care and various therapies because of it’s chemical properties and temperature.
• Geothermal waters can also be used in treatment, rehabilitation as well as in prophylaxis of illnesses and motor disabilities and in muscle deficiencies, rheumatic fever, neurological disorders and others.
• Chemical composition of those waters decides about their application in therapy of respiratory system disorders, dermatologic ailments, digestion, diabetes etc.
Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
• There aren’t enough places where the conditions of using this energy are favourable.
• The energy sources have a tendency to cool down after an extended period of use. The hot rocks may cool down or the site may run out of steam.
Geothermal Energy in Poland
• Poland has very good conditions to develop and use this renewable energy because 80% surface of Poland is placed on 3 geothermal provinces which temperature amount to 30-130 °C (in some areas even 200 °C) and on depth 1 to 10 km.
Does Geothermal Research Benefit from the Oil Industry?
• On top of investments into geothermal, we have to note that - ironically - a lot of techniques from the oil industry (drilling, geological surveys) can be useful in that field. The problem is a shortage of competent geologists and engineers, as well as specialized equipment.
• Unfortunetally, geothermal energy still plays small part in the meaning of energy production.
Future
• Geothermal energy has a great potential, which should developed by scientific researches.
Geothermal energy is becoming more and more popular in the whole world because of it’s high accessibility and low costs of production.
We hope that in the future geothermal energy will be widely used all around the world and will contribute to tackle global warming for sustainable future.
