Title Slide
Points Of This Presentation (If You Listen Closely):
- Chemistry/Climate Change
- How Geothermal Energy Works
- It’s pros and cons
- Technology
- Google Slides is the inferior presentation software to keynote
What is energy?
Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy can not be created or destroyed, only converted.
Understanding this helps us create better systems to harness renewable energy.
- Limitations of different technologies and processes
The most common energy transformation for most energy resources is electricity
The Relationship Between Energy and Humans
What effect does using energy have on citizens' lives
- Residential: Heating, Lighting, Running water, Powering devices
- Transportation
Energy Sources (renewable vs non-renewable)
Similarities: Perform the same functions
Renewable: Replenishes naturally
Non-Renewable: Causes more pollution, will eventually run out
Energy Conservation vs Energy efficiency
Energy Conservation: Changing habits to use less energy
- Unplugging laptop when not using it
- Unplug TV when you go on vacation
- Only wash full loads of laundry and dishes
Energy efficiency: Using technology to reduce energy use while performing the same task
- LED Light Bulbs
- Use an internal combustion engine in your car
- Using Hybrid Cars
In what ways does energy impact the environment?
- Causes pollution and climate change
Geothermal Energy Systems
Heat is extracted from the Earth
- A geothermal system typically involves drilling deep into the ground to access the hot water and steam that is naturally produced by the Earth's core.
Heat is converted into usable energy
- The heat extracted from the ground is then used to power a turbine, which generates electricity or can be used to provide heat directly.
Heat is re-injected into the Earth
- Once the heat has been extracted, it is important to replenish the heat source in order to maintain the long-term viability of the geothermal system. This is typically done by re-injecting the cooled water or steam back into the Earth's core.
Using Geothermal Energy
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- Reliable
- Not dependent on the elements
- A geothermal power plant could last for 50 years
- Power plant requires ⅙ the amount of space of a solar power plant
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- Initial investment is expensive
- Geothermal drilling can increase the number of earthquake
How much does it cost?
- $2,500 per installed kW, compared to about $1,600 per kW for wind turbines
- Compare it to other non-renewable energy sources.
- Releases some CO2
- Does not burn fuel to generate electricity
- How is it similar?
- How is it different?
- Compare it to
other renewable energy sources.
- More environmentally friendly but less efficient than fossil fuels
Geothermal Energy usage in the United States
3,714 MW - 2020
4 plants in USA
NY is not a good location
- Not subject to tectonic plate movements
- No volcano activity
- New England is better
- Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have favorable geological conditions for geothermal energy production. These states include significant volcanic and geothermal activity from past geological history. This provides a better potential for harnessing geothermal energy.