Why aren't more people talking about geothermal power?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/geothermal_...
This form of power eletricity generation has the potential to completely replace fossil fuels sustainably for several thousand years and would solve the problem of climate change, reduce the use of water and land and the creation of other kinds of pollution (so even if you don't support the notion of climate change it's a good idea) and stop reliance on foreign owned oil at the same time. It is far cheaper to produce eletricity geothermally than through using "clean" coal or nuclear power and it can be done on small as well as large scales so you could create more efficient grids than with nuclear and not waste power by transporting it long distances.
The US and Australia are in the two best positions to exploit geothermal resources, what are we waiting for?
Answer:
Probably, because the cost of a geothermal heat pump, is out of range for many people.
Right now let us concentrate on the easy, cheap stuff to deal with, and work on the geothermals, when they come down in price. sound like a plan??
When people are crying about the easy, cheap things, why would we jump to the expensive ones?
Because it's only available in limited areas.
Only a few places, such as Iceland, Hawaii and Larderello, Italy have enough concentrated geothermal power to make it worthwhile. It costs a lot to drill down to tap the energy, and rock is a comparatively poor conductor of heat, so that not too much power can be produced from each well.
Still, as the cost of fuel increases, and as burning fossil fuel causes increasing harm, and with the liabilities of radiation for nuclear power and disrupting migrations of birds and fish for wind turbines and water power, geothermal power is one of the more benign and increasingly economical sources.
On a local level, it is possible to use ground-loop air conditioning for heating in winter and cooling in summer. This makes heat pumps more efficient, though not true geothermal energy.
Geothermal power has a high degree of uncertainty regarding the peak potential for any given site; You might expect certain amount and get much less with just a few years of steam resource. For that reason investors are very cautious investing in this form of renewable energy. I've heard governments must guarantee the investment otherwise no money would be invest by the private sector.
Not too many people realize geothermal power is available in most places on the earth's surface. The problem is it's expensive and somewhat hard to get to, requiring a drill hole a couple of miles deep. Unless you live in places like Iceland where the energy pretty much comes to you, this method of energy extraction is pretty expensive.
Unlike many people believe, the drilling doesn't have to go into magma, but into rock that is much hotter than the surface rock. From the surface, water is pumped into the hole and steam is extracted. This is not something companies want to do around geologically sensitive areas such as the San Andreas fault, as the water can act as a lubricant, which can lead to earthquakes.
You're absolutely right; there should be no reason why we shouldn't at least fund a pilot program of several sites.
If they targeted older technology coal plants that are in an ideal geothermal location, maintaining the steam/generator turbines, they could retrofit the plant(s) to become wholly geothermal. A recycling "project" truly worthwhile. It could also serve as a direct comparison for measuring total output, ability to handle grid loads during peak usage, overall profitability relative to the type of plant it would hopefully replace. It might also relieve plant owners minds at to whether they would be able to retain their investment, their source of income.
However, geothermal is NOT completely renewable. As you deplete the heat, you get less and less generating power. Eventually, that area will not have enough heat to maintain power generation. No problem, just drill in another location - eventually (decades? centuries?) the heat will be replenished at that old site. It then becomes a question not so much of possibility but of practicality. You know the NIMBY attitude of folks - they won't like it when the local power plant has to go through an eminent domain seizing of estate for a new plant while a "perfectly good" plant lies dormant.
I think you're right about the technology. I just wonder how people will accept this new paradigm.
There are only a few locations where this is possible and even there it is not really economic.
its because we are a gasoline and oil nation and geothermol power plants are good for the environment and how is the government going to gouge prices if the power plant doesnt run on oil
Geo thermal is only workable in areas with geothermal activity, like Yellowstone and other places with hot springs and such. Iceland uses it a lot because they have the necessary geological formations. We simply do not have the ability to drill deep enough to find hot enough conditions to make any power except at the special places mentioned above. And there are not enough such places. Also, it is not as clean as you think. Neighbors of the geothermal plant in northern California have complained about large amounts of sulfur dioxide gas, polluted mud and other noxious stuff coming from the plants.
Check out RenewableEnergyAccess.com. It usually has an article on new geothermal exploration leases by companies every few days. It's happening, but the media isn't interested in reporting on it. The war, who's lying about what and the other usual crud makes headlines.
Because the real issue is not the use of fossil fuels in the generation of power that is the problem it is the cultural attachment that the people in the US have to there cars that is the problem
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