Geothermal Energy Flashcards
What is geothermal energy?
Using the natural heat found with depth, into the Earth’s Lithosphere.
What is geothermal gradient?
What would a steep gradient mean?
The change in temperature with depth.
A steep geothermal gradient means there are high temperatures close to the surface.
Name a country with a steep geothermal gradient
Iceland
What is the potential of geothermal energy compared to current consumption?
Potential to provide 10 times GPEC
How has geothermal energy impacted Iceland’s development?
- Evolved from a poor country, reliant on peat and oil imports, to a more developed, prosperous country that is virtually self-sufficient in terms of energy.
What % of Icelandic homes have direct heat from geothermal energy?
89%
What is geothermal energy used for in Iceland?
- Heat for homes, cooking, growing crops etc.
- Electricity
- Tourism, such as heating the lake of the Blue Lagoon
Name the location of a geothermal project in the UK
Southampton
Southampton:
- How many tonnes of oil are being saved every year?
- How is the energy being used?
- 1000 tonnes
- Heating and hot water
What type of location or underlying geology is suitable for extracting geothermal energy?
- Volcanically active plate margins
- Granite areas with high heat flow
- Sedimentary basins with shallow rock strata
Give 3 advantages of geothermal energy
- Low emissions, reduces greenhouse effect and acid rain etc.
- Reliable; not impacted by weather and can be used all year round
- Low land use
Give 3 disadvantages of geothermal energy
- Few sites are suitable for the technology currently available
- High initial cost of drilling
- Heating systems can be expensive and some require large amounts of clean water and/or anti-freeze in winter (which can produce greenhouse gases)
