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laurascudder, Flickr
Geothermal power systems range from heat pump systems for homes or buildings to generators harnessing steam from volcanic activity near the surface of the earth for regional power, to deep drilled wells capable of providing all the energy we need for free once they have been built.
The heat pump is an Energy Star rated apparatus for the home. Heat pumps rely on the stable, even heat of the earth to provide heating, air conditioning and, often, hot water. Like in a cave, ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. In the winter the heat pump pulls the heat of the earth inside and warms the house. In the summer the cooler earth temperature is fed through the air conditioning system and exchanged for warm indoor air.
Iceland's unique geology as a volcanic hot-spot makes geothermal power a major source for heating and power generation. Iceland gets one-fourth of its electricity and ninety percent of its home heating from geothermal power. There are other hot-spots around the world where vulcanism makes geothermal energy practical and cost effective today, notably The Geysers in Northern California..
The Hot Dry Rock method of extracting geothermal energy relies on drilling wells deep into the earth and taking advantage of heat found several kilometers deep. The Hot Dry Rock method works like the heat pump, but on a massive scale. The technology is carbon free and uses the renewable resource of the Earth's core heat. It is scaleable, modular and can be developed virtually anywhere. On the risk side of the equation, some scientists fear that the deep drilling and injection of pressurized fluids could cause earthquakes. The first commercial effort to harness Hot Dry Rock geothermal energy is underway in Australia. If successful, it will lead to a broader adoption of plentiful geothermal renewable energy.
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