Thus, in order to ensure our energy supply in the future, it is crucial to invest in this kind of technology and give companies incentives to further expand their activities in this field. In this article, the pros and cons of geothermal energy are examined. Hence, although geothermal power is considered as green energy by the general public, it is actually not entirely green. Only then will it be possible to leave fossil fuels behind and transit to an eco-friendly energy mix in the near future. It is possible to accurately predict the power output of a geothermal power plant, unlike solar and wind energy which is affected by climates. Fortunately, some countries, like the Philippines and Iceland, have been blessed with great resources, allowing them to meet over 30% their electricity demand. It may cost from $2 to $7 million for a geothermal power plant with a 1 megawatt (MW) capacity. The reservoirs can also contain elements of heavy metals such as mercury, boron, and arsenic. For instance, in contrast to conventional energies produced with the use of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions are much lower. Also, geothermal energy needs to be transported long distances by the means of hot water, which accounts for a significant energy loss. It still has environmental issues. Since water will become a quite scare resource in the future due to global warming, especially in the Southern hemisphere of our planet, this may lead to serious problems for the expansion of geothermal energy. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. It provides an ideal alternative source of energy which consequently helps reduce high reliance on foreign fuel markets. Moreover, the areas of land that have to be used for geothermal power production are also rather low compared to other energy production facilities like solar farms or wind parks. This may also lead to a decline in property prices in areas around a geothermal power facility. Excellent for Geothermal Heating and Cooling, Conclusion on Pros and Cons of Geothermal Energy, 7 Best Greywater Systems for Homes in 2020. What do you think are the pros and cons of geothermal energy? We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through a link on this page. It risks instability of surfaces. It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of geothermal energy to determine whether it would be worth embracing it relative to the conventional energy sources. Make sure to check out my new book! 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Electricity is a huge part of the economy since it used in a variety of activities including manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural and more. The same holds true for initial investments in geothermal power projects, which can cost millions of dollars to set up. Since geothermal power plants involve no combustion, it does not cause carbon footprint which can result in environmental pollution. Zone Specific Technology. Your email address will not be published. When considering geothermal heating pros and cons, the condition of your existing landscape must be included in the decision. Geothermal energy can also be difficult to access. A popular power source, geothermal energy can make it easy for us to get what we need without burning fossil fuels in the process. Pros . Check out our dictionary to learn more about several other terms relating green living. Since geothermal power plants involve no combustion, it does not cause carbon footprint which can result in environmental pollution. “Geothermal can be a huge source of energy very quickly.”. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues. Geothermal power projects are expensive, with the drilling and exploration for new reservoirs coming with high prices. Geothermal power is an important renewable energy source that may play a big role in the future green energy mix. Even though the heat inside our earth is literally eternal, the reservoirs that are used for geothermal energy production are not. It is equivalent to an eighth of the carbon emissions linked to a common coal power plant. Thus, many countries will not be able to use geothermal power in a cost-efficient manner and have to rely on other alternative energy sources instead. Geothermal energy is a natural source of power that does not require the use of fossil fuels for its extraction or for electricity generation. 2. Even though geothermal power can be considered to be a rather green energy source when compared to the use of fossil fuels, it still contributes to significant levels of pollution of many sorts. It is usually at or more than 90% which is on par with or above other baseload sources of power including coal and nuclear power plants and much larger than the intermittent sources. Easy to print guide that you can take on the go. It can meet the baseload demands of energy. Geothermal energy is thermal energy that is produced using the heat inside our earth’s crust. In general, the ground is more resistant to seasonal temperature changes than air, so only a couple of meters below the surface can be effective as a heat sink with a pump. Geothermal energy will play an important role in the transition from fossil to renewable energies. A popular power source, geothermal energy can make it easy for us to get what we need without burning fossil fuels in the process. It is renewable. In turn, this could be greatly beneficial for homeowners since they could improve their environmental footprint and also save money in the long run. The efficient use of geothermal energy is only possible in certain regions on our planet where the heat inside our earth’s crust can be accessed quite easily. Unlike some other energy sources, geothermal energy can be generated 24/7 regardless of the ever-changing weather pattern. Geothermal power production creates job opportunities which spur economic growth and development. Besides that, geothermal power plants are also connected to silica emissions and sulfur dioxide. Let us take a look at some of the most important pros and cons of this technology for our businesses and homes when it comes to powering them up. For the production of geothermal energy, quite high temperatures are needed. Generally, geothermal energy is considered as sustainable, environmentally friendly and reliable. Also, these facilities are associated with silica and sulfur dioxide and silica emissions and contain traces of toxic heavy metals, such as boron, arsenic and mercury. The Earth’s warmth is a real pearl, which has several advantages over the energy of gas, oil and atom. While other energy sources like solar power or wind energy rely on those kinds of climatic factors, the production of geothermal energy is independent of them and therefore, it can be regarded as more robust and reliable compared to other alternative energies. Geothermal for homes helps heat and cool homes depending on the prevailing temperatures and with little maintenance. The energy that is produced in geothermal processes has to be injected into the local electricity grid. Another advantage of geothermal energy is that the maintenance efforts and costs related to this kind of alternative energy are quite low. In many countries on our planet, there are significant tax subsidies for the installation of geothermal energy devices. Moreover, harmful chemicals may be released from the earth’s crust into our environment, which may lead to soil pollution and may hurt a variety of animals and plants. Drilling and exploring new reservoirs is quite expensive. Location-specific: Geothermal heat resources are widely spread and they vary from region to region. The energy that is produced through geothermal processes can also be regarded to be quite stable and reliable. Thus, in the future, geothermal power may lose the raise against other alternative energy sources like solar power or wind energy. Green Coast is a renewable energy blog community that will help you learn about renewables, energy efficiency and green living. This means some regions do not have such benefit. Every day, there is a rising need for an alternative energy source that is more clean and renewable. Hydraulic fracturing can trigger earthquakes, which had been intrinsic parts of enhanced geothermal system development. Unlike the conventional sources of energy such as coal and fossil fuels, geothermal energy is a sustainable source of energy provided the reservoirs are properly managed. Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? 1. Besides enhancing the efficiency of the whole system, it produces clean and reliable power. We will never know the situation in years or decades down the line. If we weigh the pros and cons of the geothermal energy, the advantages overshadow the disadvantages. For instance, in countries where the construction of geothermal power plants is a viable option, those countries who formerly relied on gas or oil supply from foreign countries may now be able to produce enough energy on their own to become independent from other countries. Geothermal energy reduces large dependence on alternative thermal energy such as propane, natural gas, oil, and electricity. Exact answers to help you install solar and start saving money on electricity. So, what is geothermal energy? The use of geothermal energy also involves the emission of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. In fact, there was a tremendous growth in households that use geothermal cooling and heating over the years. We can presume that geothermal energy is renewable, as its reservoirs are coming from natural resources that are naturally replenished. Hence, geothermal energy is a quite quiet energy source and people who live nearby will not be disturbed by noises related to this power generation method. GreenCoast.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com products.