The intensely high temperatures at the core of the earth originated from vast masses of hot substances collapsing during the formation of the planet. Since then the heat has continued to be emitted due to radioactive decay of atoms making up the earth below. This earth-sized nuclear-reactor will likely continue to produce heat for millions and millions of years still to come, which makes it a renewable resource.
The other aspect of geothermal power is that water is intrinsically involved in the process. Again, due to the water cycle, it is also renewable. This type of renewable energy has also been shown to reduce incidence of acid rain to only 3% of other traditional forms of electricity generation.
A small amount of potential pollutants e. G. Sulfur dioxide, do come up with the steam, but they are returned into well from which they came, or are changed into industrial chemicals. Because no fuel combustion is required for getting this form of energy, it is very clean, boasting a small carbon footprint. It is thus an appealing alternative to methods requiring burning, with associated greenhouse gas emissions to produce electricity.
In comparison to other power stations, like those that are fuel-driven, the technology employed to channel this subterranean steam to turbines, requires less space, with no pipelines needed to supply fuels to power machinery, since the steam comes up on its own. The steam produced by the high temperatures deep down below the surface is also a local product in every country, meaning that there is no need to depend on foreign input for any aspect of it.
Making use of the wealth of energy stored underneath the surface can be problematic. This is because only sites that have hydrothermal wells close to the surface are cost-effective. Thus areas like Hawaii and Alaska and a few others are currently suitable. This means it cannot be exploited on a wide scale.
Companies that are approached to undertake establishing such power generating establishments are reluctant to do so, as typically these areas are synonymous with earthquakes and volcanoes, making capital investment risky. In addition, the pockets of steam that are found by drilling, can be insufficient in quantity and will run out from time to time, requiring repositioning of the pipes to tap into new wells.
The key to being able to introduce geothermal energy usage on a wider geographical scale is limited by the advancements in drilling technology. The reason for this is that the heat and corrosive elements associated with this type of drilling requires special equipment. This equipment is hugely expensive at present.
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