Geothermal Energy

Andrew MorgensternShayLynn SchultzChelsey Lorence

What is it?

• Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth.

• Magma below the earths crust continually produces heat

• The first 10,000 meters of Earth’s surface contains 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the world

ShayLynn Schultz

How It Works• Hotspots, Earthquakes and magma, • The most common way of capturing the energy is to tap into natural

"hydrothermal convection" systems – cooler water seeps into Earth's crust, is heated up, and then rises to the

surface.• Each plant needs about 450-600 gallons per min. to

generate 1mw

Dry steam Flash Steam Binary cycle

ShayLynn Schultz

Renewable or Nonrenewable?

• Geothermal is a renewable energy• Energy comes from heat of the earth• The earth’s core generated constant and

unlimited amounts of heat

Andrew Morgenstern

Cost

• Cost around $2500 per installed kWh for initial construction

• Operation of plant cost around $.01 to $.03 per kWh

• At the geyser power cost $.03 to $.035 per kWh

• Today it cost around $.05 per kWh

Andrew Morgenstern

Positives of Geothermal Energy

• Great energy savings, 70% in some cases• Water source heat pumps don’t require

defrost cycle• No outdoor equipment required• No noise pollution problems• All electric• Non-polluting energy source

Chelsey Lorence

Negative Aspects

• Finding a Suitable Building Location• Air and Water Pollution• Disposal of Hazardous Waste• Siting• Land Subsidence• Minerals Left Over – Sulfur

ShayLynn Schultz

Environmental impact

• Emissions are low to none in the form of steam

• Water is recycled• Power plants produce small amounts of solid

materials (sulfur, etc.)

Andrew Morgenstern

What Country Uses the Most Geothermal Energy

• The United States• Mostly the western states use this energy

source

Ideal Geothermal Locations

• Alaska• California• Oregon• Nevada• Anywhere near Hotspots, Volcanoes, &

Geysers• You Could Supply This Energy Anywhere That

You Can Build a Plant

ShayLynn Schultz

Geothermal Energy in our Community

• Geothermal Energy can be tapped anywhere• Mostly used in the western states, Alaska, and

Hawaii• There are currently no geothermal plants in

our community• No plants in Minnesota but there is potential

Works Cited• "Geothermal Energy." - Renewable Energy World. Web. 02 Apr. 2012.

<http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy>.• EERE: Geothermal Technologies Program Home Page." Advanced Manufacturing

Office: Technology Deployment. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/>.

• "Geologists Revise State's Potential for Geothermal Energy." MPR News. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. <http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/27/geothermal-energy-potential/>.

• "Geothermal Positives and Negatives." Geothermal-lapeer. 12 Apr. 2002. Web. <http://geothermal-lapeer.com/geothermal_positives_and_ne.html>.

• Union of Concerned Scientists. "How Geothermal Energy Works." UCSUSA. 16 Dec. 2009. Web.