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Geothermal energy is the energy taken from the heat stored inside the earth. This energy has been stored inside the earth from its very origination and even from the solar energy, which is absorbed by the surface of the earth.
Geothermal energy has been widely used today to provide electrical power in countries. Industries have also been using geothermal power to produce industrial heating and other processes needed inside the plants. Geothermal power has been known for its cost – effectiveness, reliability and most importantly, for being environmentally – friendly. However, there are also some setbacks in using this energy source. Although it is known to be natural, it is not found almost anywhere in the earth. Areas which are near the boundaries of the tectonic plates are where the good source of geothermal energy can be found. That result was the result of earlier days’ study. Today, however, studies have shown that the area source of geothermal power has widen and expanded.
There has been many theories and assumptions that the earth’s supply of geothermal power is more than enough to supply our needs for even a hundred year. However, today, as everybody may have noticed, geothermal energy is still not our main source of power. So, what could be the reason for this? Actually, the energy from beneath the earth is never that easy to get. Although it may sound like a regular and normal drilling is all that we just need, several manpower and machineries are needed to ensure that the drilling will not cause any damage to the earth’s surface. Therefore, getting the natural energy from underneath is costly, that no investors would risk their money for it.
So, how does the interior of the earth produce electricity? Technically, the heat inside the earth is something like six thousand degrees centigrade. That hotness would be more than enough to melt rocks. The extent of the use of the energy from underneath the earth depends largely on how hot it is. Basically, the energy is taken from the steam produced when water is being pumped inside. The hotter it is, the more steam is being produced. Geothermal energy is considered not only as a natural source of power, but it also falls under the renewable sources of energy category. It is considered renewable because once the hole has been made, the rain pours into it, reproducing the steam over again.
In the early years, the steam being produced from geothermal power is only used for hot spas and hot springs. It has helped more the tourism industry more than any other industries. As years passed, however, the people have discovered more efficient and useful usage of the steam and the energy being produced.
Is producing geothermal power then safe for the environment? While the answer may not be something that is very much acceptable, you may be relieved with the fact that as a part of the social responsibility of the suppliers and developers, they try to block the emission of harmful gases to the air, thus preventing any damage to the people’s health.
