Official Geothermal Energy Fan Page

In conclusion, you should totally totally switch to geothermal energy, because of its life-changing environmental benefits and its increase in efficiency. Geothermal energy has so much potential (no pun intended) and it is up to us to make sure it is reached!

A note on efficiency: for every unit of electricity a geothermal energy system uses, it gives three to four units of heating energy, making it 300% to 400% efficient. 😝

The recovered heat, including that from this reversed exothermic reaction (negative enthalpy change or delta H value), is what is used to generate power. The whole process will then repeat itself, with the regenerated reactants re-entering the reservoir to be heated once more, and so on.

Reactants will be pumped into an injection pipe to be geothermally heated, which causes an endothermic reaction (positive enthalpy change or delta H value). The heated products will then rise through a production pipe through to the surface, where they are then cooled to reverse the reaction.

In an Enhanced Geothermal System, which is a model that can be widely applied across the world to generate electricity from geothermal reservoirs, the power plant will have certain reactants that the chemical reaction can be performed with.

Here's a diagram from Freepik to help illustrate the geothermal power plant.

When it comes to potential energy, the Earth is literally full of it. Geothermal power plants take this potential energy stored deep underground and convert it into kinetic energy through a repeating chemical process that generates electricity.

You may be wondering… what is the chemistry behind geothermal energy?

😱 Fun fact! Geothermal energy is the most energy efficient method of power for heating and cooling! 😆

The overarching health benefit is that geothermal energy use can alleviate the risks associated with pollution.

Groundwater contamination with geothermal fluids can also pose public health risks, but it is important to note that both of these risks can be avoided with proper practice.

The main health risk posed by geothermal energy comes from the emissions of noncondensable gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and benzene, which can cause leukemia in humans.

Health benefits and risks:

Oil is the biggest global source of energy, so let’s see how geothermal energy looks in comparison!

This may be the real Midwest Princess...

Wanna talk energy efficiency and cost? Don't just talk to me, talk to the STATS. 🤠😘

And last but not least, another amazing benefit:
Geothermal energy is sustainable, with no risk of depleting the heat generated in the earth’s core! She ateeeee.

Benefits:
Geothermal energy has a positive impact on the environment because it is able to be generated without burning fossil fuels.
There is low water usage required for geothermal energy generation, and most of this water can be from non-freshwater sources.

Risks:
There are still some carbon emissions from geothermal energy plants, meaning that if geothermal energy is overused, it can contribute to the climate crisis.
There are natural disaster risks posed by the drilling of tectonic plates.

When it comes to environmental impacts, geothermal energy really is that gworl 💅 It's safe to say the benefits outweigh the risks!

Long-lasting: Geothermal energy plants can last up to 50 years! Wbk, these energy plants age like fine wine 🍷

Industrial expansion: Technological improvements and innovation is allowing for increasing accessibility to geothermal energy.

Various applications: Geothermal energy can be used on large or small scales, whether it be for large power plants or small residential buildings, through the use of a heat pump.

Small land footprint: In comparison to other green energy sources, such as solar and wind plants, geothermal power plants take up considerably less space.

Clean: While there may be carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions from geothermal energy plants, they are very low and not consequential in moderation.

Renewable: Geothermal energy is generated from heat stored in the Earth’s core, and since there is an incredible amount available in the Earth’s core, the amount of energy we would extract closer to the Earth’s crust would not be nearly enough to pose a risk of depletion.

Reliability: Geothermal power plants can consistently produce energy, regardless of weather conditions.

Okay, ready for some good news? The advantages of geothermal energy are as follows:

Instability: Drilling deep into the ground near tectonic boundaries can cause ground instability and in extreme cases, earthquakes.

Expensive: There are high upfront costs to build geothermal power plants, as it is difficult and expensive to drill deep into the earth.