Geothermal

Question 1

Geothermal

Answer 1

thermal energy harnessed from earth’s crust. Heat is exploited for electricity generation, space heating and water heating.

Question 2

Features of Geothermal Energy

Answer 2

renewable, predictable, specific unusual local conditions required

Question 3

Source of heat for Geothermal

Answer 3

heat derived from the radioactive decay of thorium, uranium and potassium in Earth’s mantle. Heat transfers to the crust through the movement of magma and hot water.

Question 4

Low temperature schemes

Answer 4

harnesses heat that does not boil water but water may be brought to the surface and used in space heating.

Question 5

High temperature schemes

Answer 5

very hot water brought to the surface and steam used to produce electricity or water pumped into hot dry rocks to produce steam

Question 6

Environmental impacts of geothermal

Answer 6

Embodied energy of buildings and infrastructure, steam and hot water pipes can constrain the movement of large mammals, waste water may contain salts and heavy metals, other gases may be released from the ground such as CO2 and hydrogen sulphide

Question 7

New geothermal technologies

Answer 7

using low temperature schemes to boil a liquid with a low boiling point such as butane or pentane, gas can be used to turn a turbine or compressed to release energy like heat pump technology.