Advisor:  Bard Baldwin

SLU Festival of Science 2001 Poster Presentation

 

Recent energy problems within our country, along with the thoughts towards the future, are leading us to the implementation of “green” technologies as solutions.  There is a need for new technologies that will help solve our energy problems without harming the environment.  One such “green” technology is geothermal energy.

 

Geothermal energy is one answer for the future, along with other renewable energy sources.  Geothermal energy is created when underground heat is transferred by water that is heated as it passes through subsurface regions of hot rocks.  This heat is brought to the surface as hot water or steam, through holes drilled in the ground.  This steam and water can be used for space heating and to produce electricity.

Geothermal energy is a useful technology because it is clean power source.  It emits little or no greenhouse gases or air pollutants.  It is a reliable technology because it is available to be harnessed 24 hours a day.  It is a domestic technology because it is harnessed within our own country, and it does not rely on foreign imports for fuel.

Geothermal technology is used in three ways; geothermal heat pumps, direct use applications and the generation of electricity.  Geothermal energy can be tapped on a small scale such as when homeowners tap energy in the backyards to use as space heating. Or it can be tapped on a large scale, by geothermal power plants to use to create electricity.

Geothermal energy is cost effective, reliable and clean.  There are positive environmental aspects to this technology when compared to current energy sources, mainly fossil fuels.  There are also a few negative environmental impacts such as odor, and ground subsidence.