What is Geothermal Energy?

This is the process in which energy is built up under the Earth's surface and then rises to the surface in the form of heat. When this heat naturally creates steam or hot water, it is harnessed and used for turning a steam turbine to generate electricity.

What can Geothermal Energy be used for?

Geothermal Energy can be used to heat spas, pools, homes, greenhouses and aquaculture ponds. However, Geothermal energy is one of least explored sources of renewable energy.

How much does it cost to install Geothermal systems?

Usually, geothermal systems cost a little more to install than a conventional fossil fuel system with air conditioning. However, it has a lower operational cost and no fuel deliveries. Geothermal systems also do not cause any atmospheric emissions such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.

How does the cost of heating in a geothermal system compare to that of other heating methods?

Geothermal systems cost less to operate than electric, propane gas, kerosene, oil, electric heat pumps, or natural gas.

What are some sources of Geothermal Energy?

Volcanic Systems, which are usually small but are well developed for electricity generation

Sedimentary Geothermal, which are naturally occuring limestone or sandstone rocks that have water.

Hot Rocks allow for the creation of Engineered Geothermal Systems in which developers artifically create a reservoir for water to flow thorugh hot granite rocks.

How is Geothermal Heat produced?

Geothermal heat is generated from the slow decay of radioactive elements within the Earth.

What is the Engineered Geothermal System (EGS)?

This is a system in which the hot rocks, that contain the geothermal energy, do not have a permeable reservoir. In the EGS, the reservoir needs to be created, which can be done in either two ways:

1) Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation which is used to open up natural fractures or zones of weakness in rocks. This can be done by injection of water under high pressure into the rock

2) Injection of Acid into the rock, which can help to dissolve the minerals. This can enhance the permeability of the rock along the existing fracture zones.