Geothermal energy is the most efficient renewable energy source that exists on our planet today. Because geothermal energy is made using the heat from the center of the earth, it is an abundant natural resource that will never run out. With all the benefits of geothermal energy, the only question left to ask is why we do not use more of it.
The main reason that geothermal energy is not used more often is the price tag. The equipment needed to generate geothermal energy is expensive, and not many companies are willing to invest the amount of overhead it takes to get a geothermal energy plant up and running.
Our planet’s non-renewable energy sources are finite and finding a renewable alternative is essential. Geothermal energy should be a frontrunner in the race for renewable energy sources but instead, it has been placed on the back burner. Read on to discover everything you need to know about why geothermal energy is not used more often.
Why Geothermal Energy Is So Expensive
Geothermal energy carries a hefty price tag, and the main reason for this is the equipment that is needed to generate it. Geothermal energy is produced using naturally occurring heat from deep within the earth. Because these pockets of heat are so deep beneath the earth’s surface, drilling is required to access them.
While we only have to drill between 1,000 and 2,000 feet deep for geothermal energy, it is typically only present in areas near tectonic plate boundaries. These locations have multiple layers of hard rock as well as high heat, which presents a challenge and skyrockets drilling prices.
Another expense with geothermal energy is exploration. Just as with other resources beneath the ground, such as oil and gas, we cannot know for sure if geothermal energy is present until we drill for it. With the costs of drilling as high as they are and only about 1 in every 5 exploratory drills being successful, this is a major expense.
Overall, when these costs are combined, it can take anywhere from two to seven million dollars to drill and build a geothermal energy plant. The other side to that coin, however, is that once completed, these plants can run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at over 500% efficiency.
Where Can Geothermal Energy Be Found?
Another reason why we do not use more geothermal energy is that it can only be found in certain places. While geothermal heat can be found all over the planet, geothermal energy is only present in specific locations.
Geothermal energy is generated by accessing water and heat deep in the center of the earth to create steam. This steam is then used to spin turbines which power a generator. The generator spins magnets, which create electricity that can then be used to power homes and other buildings connected to the main power grid.
For this process to work, the temperature beneath the earth must be high enough to withstand enormous amounts of water without cooling down. Temperatures this high are only found in certain geographical locations near volcanoes and tectonic plate boundaries.
We do not yet have the technology necessary to extend the reach of geothermal energy from the few locations where it can be found, and because of this, it can only be used in those areas.
What Do We Need to Do to Use More Geothermal Energy?
For the world to use more geothermal energy, the available technology would need to be significantly improved. Geothermal energy is the only truly unlimited source of sustainable, renewable energy on the planet and has the potential to provide electricity to the entire world if we can figure out how to harness it.
In order to use more geothermal energy we would need to do the following:
- Reduce the cost of drilling.
- Establish an infrastructure.
- Reduce upfront capital costs.
- Extend the reach of geothermal energy.
- Increase the area from which to extract geothermal energy.
- Drill more geothermal energy wells.
With advances in available technology and more widespread research, we could significantly increase our use of geothermal energy on a global scale.
How Much Does Geothermal Energy Cost?
While geothermal plants are the most expensive energy plants to drill and construct, the operating and maintenance costs are usually lower than any other type of energy plant. Maintenance costs for geothermal energy plants are typically only 1 to 3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Geothermal energy plants generate electricity 100% independently with water and heat from the earth. Because of this, they do not incur the same costs as other energy plants that have to purchase fossil fuels to produce energy. These limited maintenance costs, coupled with the lack of need for fossil fuels, are what make geothermal energy so affordable.
Monthly prices for electricity generated using geothermal energy are between 5 and 8 cents per kWh on average. When you compare this with an average of 13 to 25 cents per kWh for natural gas or nuclear power, the benefits of geothermal energy are clear.
How Much Geothermal Energy Are We Using?
Geothermal energy is used in more than 20 countries around the world. Of these countries, the United States generates and uses the most. The largest geothermal energy plant in the world is The Geysers, located in the state of California near San Francisco. Other countries using substantial amounts of geothermal energy are:
- Indonesia – This country is the next highest producer of geothermal energy in the world, second only to the United States.
- Iceland – Iceland has been highly regarded for years for their use of renewable resources to generate electricity, and now have 100% sustainable power generated by wind, solar energy, and geothermal energy.
- Italy – This country has had a rough history because of its location near many active volcanoes. However, these volcanoes are now providing sustainable geothermal energy to some parts of Italy.
With over 16 other countries generating geothermal energy, we are using more of this sustainable energy source than ever before, and yet it is still used to generate less electricity than other energy sources. Geothermal energy only generates about .04% of the electricity used in the United States, and that is the highest of any country.
We have barely scratched the surface when it comes to the amount of geothermal energy used in the world. This abundant natural resource is present in over 90 countries and yet, for the most part, remains untapped.
Environmental Concerns About Geothermal Energy
Because geothermal power plants do not burn fossil fuels to generate electricity like other power plants, they produce clean energy and are not bad for the environment. Steam and hot water released by geothermal energy plants can contain small amounts of hydrogen sulfide and other gases that can be harmful in substantial amounts.
Unlike the harmful greenhouse gases produced by other energy sources, geothermal power plants use scrubber systems to filter these chemicals out of the air to be used for other things.
Chemicals filtered from the steam released by geothermal plants can be released back beneath the ground or used to make things like fertilizer. Other chemicals emitted by geothermal power plants are sulfur compounds.
While geothermal plants do emit carbon dioxide, they emit far less than power plants, which generate energy using fossil fuels. Coal and natural gas power plants emit approximately 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour, while geothermal energy plants only emit about 60 pounds per hour.
Conclusion
Overall, geothermal energy is a plentiful renewable resource with the potential to power the entire world someday. Because of high initial overhead costs and geographical limitations, it is not used often; however, it may be the most sustainable energy source in the world.
https://www.dw.com/en/geothermal-energy-why-hasnt-it-caught-on-yet/a-40487029
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/geothermal-energy/