What is geothermal energy?

geothermal energy is the energy that releases from the ground. It comes from magma and radioactive disintegration of uranium, thoria and potassium. Magma is hot due to the huge amount of friction and pressure located in the area of ​​the Earth's subsurface area. However, geothermal energy is used by more than 20 countries, especially in Iceland, which acquires 17% of its electricity from geothermal energy. The largest geothermal energy plants release a few hundred MW (Megawatts). It is estimated that Iceland has enough geothermal energy to provide 1700 MW for more than 100 years.

The process of extracting energy from heat on Earth is quite simple. You pump the water along the pipe to the heat source and let it boil, the current runs through the turbine that collects strength, then the water is relocated and sent the car again. If we had pipes strong enough and deep enough, we could send them down to the Earth's cloak and have a virtually inexhaustible source of electricity. But with today's technology we can only achieve pocketsheat that are near the surface.

geothermal energy is not a strictly renewable source of energy, such as wind or water water, because the Earth is slowly cooling when energy is obtained. However, geothermal energy is slowly renewed due to radioactive heating. It is assumed that molten rock at temperatures between 1,200 and 2,200 ° F (650 to 1,200 ° C) can be found in pockets 50 to 60 miles (about 80 to 97 km) below the Earth's surface, just below tectonic plates. This would provide an amazing source of geothermal energy, but mankind the deepest holes drilled only about 8 km (13 km) down. As we move to independence from fossil Fuels, geothermal connects to solar and nuclear energy in providing pure energy to world office, industry and homes.