Flowing With The Tide

Geothermal power comes from energy located within the earth itself to give clean, alternative energy without contributing to climate change. It is a lot more cost effective as well as scalable as compared to wind turbines and solar panels and is much safer in comparison with nuclear fission. So when looking for an alternative to fossil fuels, give geothermal energy a chance.

Picture a future free of traditional energy sources, a world where all of us are not shackled by oil or harming our environment by burning coal. With geothermal power this vision is possible today. Geothermal energy works by tapping into the energy of the earth itself in order to create clean, reliable power which does not exploit natural resources and will always be around for future generations. Plus, in contrast to traditional fuel energy sources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, geothermal energy is, for the most part, carbon neutral. This makes it a really essential tool in the battle against climate change.

But how does geothermal energy work and also just what makes this any better than other varieties of green power like wind farms or solar plants? Well to put this simply, the earth is hot. In addition to the energy absorbed daily by the sun, the earth’s core has sufficient energy left over from its formation and from the radioactive decay of elements to cover the entire human population’s power consumption many times over. Geothermal plants, such as those in Southampton, harness this power by drilling deep beneath the earth’s surface and pumping water down the hole. This water is then warmed naturally and the energy is converted into electrical power. They create serious amounts of electrical power too, with 10 gigawatts produced in 2007. Although this is actually only a tiny amount of the global total, geothermal energy use is increasing daily as more and more countries change over to sustainable sources of electrical power.

Unlike nuclear energy plants, geothermal wells create absolutely no harmful radioactive waste materials that needs to be moved and stored and it offers advantages over other non-fossil fuel sources as well. Solar panels and wind generators, while still outstanding sources of renewable energy, are pricey and cannot be scaled up to the extent that geothermal plants can. Geothermal pumps can range from a small unit designed to power a single home to big utility plants that can power an entire metropolis. Additionally it is a time tested technology that has been around for many years. In fact, the Romans even relied on geothermal wells to warm their famous baths and floors such as those found in Bath in Somerset. The early Chinese dynasties tapped into the power of hot springs as well and took advantage of the healing qualities that the warmth supplied.

As you can see, geothermal energy has a lot to give in an more and more sustainable society. It is totally renewable, produces very little waste, is carbon-neutral, and it is a cost efficient technique of producing electricity without adding to global warming. For these reasons geothermal power is regarded a serious alternative to solar, wind, nuclear, and especially fossil fuels as an energy source.

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