Geothermal Energy Basics
The Earth's heat—called geothermal energy—escapes as
steam at a hot spring in Nevada.
Many technologies have been developed to take advantage
of geothermal energy—the heat from the earth. This heat can
be drawn from several sources: hot water or steam reservoirs
deep in the earth that are accessed by drilling geothermal
reservoirs located near the earth's surface, mostly located in
western states, Alaska, and Hawaii.
This variety of geothermal resources allows usage on both
large and small scales. A utility can use the hot water and
steam from reservoirs to drive generators and produce
electricity for it's customers. Other applications apply the heat
produced from geothermal directly to various uses in
buildings, roads, agriculture, and industrial plants. Still others
use the heat directly from the ground to provide heating and
cooling in homes and other buildings.
Other geothermal resources exist miles beneath the earth's
surface in the hot rock and magma there. In the future, these
resources may also be useful as sources of heat and energy.
The Earth's heat—called geothermal energy—escapes as
steam at a hot spring in Nevada.
Many technologies have been developed to take advantage
of geothermal energy—the heat from the earth. This heat can
be drawn from several sources: hot water or steam reservoirs
deep in the earth that are accessed by drilling geothermal
reservoirs located near the earth's surface, mostly located in
western states, Alaska, and Hawaii.
This variety of geothermal resources allows usage on both
large and small scales. A utility can use the hot water and
steam from reservoirs to drive generators and produce
electricity for it's customers. Other applications apply the heat
produced from geothermal directly to various uses in
buildings, roads, agriculture, and industrial plants. Still others
use the heat directly from the ground to provide heating and
cooling in homes and other buildings.
Other geothermal resources exist miles beneath the earth's
surface in the hot rock and magma there. In the future, these
resources may also be useful as sources of heat and energy.
| Take a geothermal energy field trip! |
| Copyright 2007 Great American Energy |
| GAE Geothermal Power Plants DARROUGH HOT SPRINGS |
