Geothermal Power - Heat from Underground Flashcards
Where is this only possible?
In certain places where hot rocks lie quite near to the surface
What is the source of much of the energy?
The slow decay of various radioactive elements including uranium deep inside the earth
What is done first with water?
It’s pumped in pipes down to the hot rocks and forced back up due to pressure to turn a turbine, driving a generator
Where is the energy transferred from and to?
From thermal energy stores to kinetic energy stores and used to generate electricity
What is geothermal energy used to do in some places?
Heat buildings directly
What is good about it?
It is free, renewable energy with no real environmental problems
What is the main drawback?
The cost of drilling down several km
Very few places where this seems to be an economic option rn
The cost of building a power plant is often high compared to…
The amount of energy we can get out of it
