Geothermal Energy Saving Earth Encyclopedia Britannica

Geothermal Energy Saving Earth Encyclopedia Britannica The amount of usable energy from geothermal sources varies with depth and by extraction method. the increase in temperature of rocks and other materials underground averages 20–30 °c (36–54 °f) per kilometre (0.6 mile) depth worldwide in the upper part of the lithosphere, and this rate of increase is much higher in most of earth’s known geothermal areas. In addition, the cost of geothermal energy varies between 5 and 10 cents per kilowatt hour, which can be competitive with other energy sources, such as coal. the main disadvantage of geothermal energy development is the high initial investment cost in constructing the facilities and infrastructure and the high risk of proving the resources.

Geothermal Energy Saving Earth Encyclopedia Britannica Geothermal energy, power obtained by using heat from earth’s interior. most geothermal resources are in regions of active volcanism. hot springs, geysers, pools of boiling mud, and fumaroles are the most easily exploited sources. the ancient romans used hot springs to heat baths and homes, and similar uses are still found in iceland, turkey. Renewable energy, also called alternative energy, usable energy derived from replenishable sources such as the sun (solar energy), wind (wind power), rivers (hydroelectric power), hot springs (geothermal energy), tides (tidal power), and biomass (biofuels). at the beginning of the 21st century, about 80 percent of the world’s energy supply. Vocabulary. geothermal energy is heat that is generated within earth. (geo means “earth,” and thermal means “heat” in greek.) it is a renewable resource that can be harvested for human use. about 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) below earth’s crust, or surface, is the hottest part of our planet: the core. 0:05. geothermal energy is heat that comes from inside earth. it is an alternative energy source that can be used for cooking, bathing, and heating. it can also be converted into electricity. geothermal energy is available anywhere on earth’s surface. in some places, such as iceland, the heat is so close to the surface it can be easily used.