Good Day Nairalanders, In this country where the Government has failed to provide adequate and sustainable Electricity, I think its high time we as citizens Looked at other better, renewable and Sustainable Source of Electricity..

Ive decided to do so buy Designing a Zero-Energy Building - You can read about that HERE



We'll be discussing these Sources Here in this Thread..

[size=18pt]First What is Renewable Energy?[/size]

When you hear people talking about renewable energy, they are referring to a source of energy that can be replenished or replaced within a human’s lifetime. The important of renewable energy comes down to sustainability. Since the industrial revolution, global energy demands have skyrocketed and our current dependence on fossil fuels, a non renewable source of energy, to meet those needs is not something that is sustainable in the long term since we are using up the resources faster than the earth is producing more. It is reasonable to assume that our energy needs will only continue to increase over time as countries population continue to grow, so finding alternatives is important for society now, and especially for future generations.



Sources of Renewable Energy

Some of the emerging sources for alternative energy are in solar, wind, and biomass. Other options include hydropower, tidal, wave and geothermal energy, though they have not had as much growth and mainstream adoption as the others.

So how do they work? And if they are renewable and so much better for the environment and future generations, why aren’t we using them exclusively now? The answer to those questions is complicated and not really a single reason, but rather a combination of many factors, some of it political or economic and some of it comes down to the limitations of the technology itself.

[size=15pt]Solar Power[/size]

Solar power consists of capturing sunlight in special photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. That electricity is then typically stored in batteries for use later.

Solar power as a source of energy is especially exciting because it produces no pollution during its use and is completely silent. The only pollution created is during the actual manufacture of the cells and is a minuscule amount considering its other environmental benefits.

Solar power also scales incredibly well. You can use a single small cell to power a calculator, or place an array on a home in the city to supplement or replace reliance on the power grid, up to a large scale solar farm in the dessert to act as a regional power plant.

It works great in remote locations where running power lines would be difficult or costly. The use of solar panels to power satellites in space is a great example of the ways solar can provide power to places not hooked up to the power grid (and in this case impossible to hook up)

Of course solar is not without its own drawbacks, cost to get it all set up being one of the largest. Cost however continues to come down as the technology matures and tax credits exist in many areas to encourage people to make the initial investment. Solar cells efficiency is also adversely affected by cloudy overcast weather and completely useless during the night. In spite of these negatives though, there is huge potential in the future of solar energy, especially when you consider statistics like the worlds current energy consumption could be taken care for 27 years from the energy of a single day of sunlight hitting the earth. Assuming of course we were able to capture that energy. That is pretty amazing to stop and think about how incredible that is though!

[size=15pt]Wind Power[/size]

This is actually a pretty old source of energy for humanity, when you think of how long people have used the power of the wind to sail ships across the world’s oceans for trade and exploration, of course sailboats and windmills still exist but these days, wind turbines are used to generate electricity rather than simply crushing grain or to pump water.

Wind turbines can exist offshore or onshore, though most of the time they are placed in remote or rural areas because of noise created and because the room required for the spinning turbines is not well suited for urban environments.

Wind power has the same advantages of solar as far as its source being plentiful and completely renewable, with no harmful air or water pollution from its use. It is not as quiet as solar however, and many people complain about the aesthetics of a bunch of turbines being an eye sore or ruining an area’s natural beauty. While they might support wind power for the bigger picture of cleaner energy and lessening reliance on our dwindling supply of fossil fuels it becomes a case of a ” not in my backyard” sort of mentality.

Not everyone however shares that opinion and it’s worth noting that as of 2014 Denmark generated 40% of its electricity from wind power, with a plan to increase that to 50% by 2020 and 84% in 2035 The Danish government has been a pioneer of using wind power since the 1970’s and a large share of turbine manufacturers on the market today are Danish.

[size=15pt]Biomass Energy[/size]

Biomass refers to using biological material of living or once living organisms for energy. It could be as simple as directly burning it for a heat source, like a log in a fireplace, or by converting it through various processes into some form of bio-fuel such as ethanol or biodiesel.

The main advantage of biomass as a fuel is in the use of waste material as a fuel source. Reducing waste is just as important as meeting energy needs, so getting that dual benefit is appealing. Some examples of waste as a bio-fuel would be using discarded vegetable oil to create bio-diesel and capturing methane gasses produced by the breakdown of materials in landfills.

Corn and Soy are also often used to create ethanol. While it is a renewable source, the biggest problem with biomass as a replacement for our energy needs would be it competing with our food needs. We only have so much land that is suitable for growing our food, much less having to share that limited fertile land to grow corn or soy or whatever for our fuel needs as well. Of course as our population continues to grow, needing more of food and energy, this problem becomes even worse.

It also requires a good amount of water to grow these crops, a resource that in itself is very important for our survival and in short supply in many regions (the current California drought being a great example).

The last thing to note about biomass as a fuel or heat source is that while it has lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels, it is still not a totally clean source of energy like wind or solar.

[size=15pt]Hydro Power[/size]

Hydro power provides a clean and renewable power source as it works from harnessing the flow of water in an area. Rivers can be used, but dams and reservoirs can also be built to create a reliable energy source for the plant.

Unlike solar and wind, water sources are more stable and reliable. This is turn makes the power to the plant more reliable than these other clean energies too.

There is no mining and no burning associated with water power. The overall rate of pollution released during the production of hydro power is far less than any other fossil fuel type.

Hydro power plants may have a higher cost to build, but the lifetime costs of a plant work out to be much more cost effective than fossil fuel dependent energy plants.

While fossil fuels can take thousands of years to renew themselves, water renews its amount on a regular basis.

Reservoirs can be used for irrigation, public water and as recreational points in a community. The additional use potential of the reservoir makes this for of power even more cost efficient.

Creating a reservoir damages the marine ecology of an area that then effects all of the other ecologies around it. Even though the ecology is replace with the one in the reservoir, it is not the ecology native to the area.

There are certain “wild card” factors that naturally occur that can dramatically lessen a hydro-powers production. Factors such as drought, extreme weather and excess evaporation can all cause water levels to drop.

While the overall lifespan cost of a plant may be less than fossil fuels, it is much higher in cost to create a hydro power plant and maintain it over its first 10 years.

Hydro power reservoirs pose an imminent danger to the surrounding human populations. The dam can break, or overflow and cause flash flooding easily.

[size=15pt]Geothermal Energy[/size]

Geothermal energy is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy to use. It is done by running systems underground to allow the Earth’s natural heating and cooling properties to transfer to the liquid passed through the strata.

This type of renewable energy scores high on the environmentally friendly scale. There is next to no pollution resulting from its use.
The source of the energy, the Earth’s strata, is always replenishing itself.

It is thought that if all the areas currently able to use geothermal energy did so it could add 2 terawatts of power to our resources.
Less reliable powers such as solar and wind can’t be used to meet the base load need of a community, but geothermal power is highly reliable and can meet that need.

You can use geothermal power as easily for a home as you can a major building.

Half of a geothermal plant is underground so you don’t need much space to build one.

Research programs to improve on current technologies are well funded compared to other energy sources.

There is no way to build something on land, or go underground, without there being an environmental impact. It is small with geothermal plants, but still there.

Earthquakes and other seismic activity can damage a geothermal system.

While less land is used, the cost of constructing a geothermal system is much higher than other types of plants.

The current technology only allows for certain regions to use geothermal power.

If a geothermal system is not managed correctly the power resource can run dry.

[size=15pt]Tidal Energy[/size]

Sometimes referred to as Ocean Power, tidal energy focuses on harnessing power from the ocean’s currents and tides and transforming them into energy for land use.

Tidal energy is dependent on gravitational fields between the Earth, sun and moon. This forms a constantly renewing cycle of energy.

This is also one of the greenest and cleanest forms of renewable energy known. It doesn’t mean that it is without impact when put through a plant, but that the impact is far less than other energy processes.

The science of predicting tidal currents is very old and highly developed. This makes it a more reliable source of energy than wind or sun which can break predicted patterns easily.

It can be hard to get wind and solar to produce when there isn’t much going on, but tidal energy is very effective when low speed tides are present due to the high density of water.

Although this is a very new power it is projected that the power plants themselves will have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance than other types of energy facilities.

Yes, tidal power is very green and environmentally friendly, but the exact impact of the plant is not known yet as the technology is too new.

Right now the actually energy facility for tidal power has to be built near land in strong currents. This occupies real estate that could be used in other ways, and represents a potential threat to the environment and ecology there too.

This is a very expensive form of energy to implement, mostly because the technology is new.

Hopefully now you better understand the meaning of what renewable energy is and have a better understanding of its importance for a future of sustainable energy. While still imperfect alone, steps are being made to mitigate the disadvantages as much as possible and improve efficiency and viability of renewable energy as our primary source of energy instead of our current reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels.

Source - http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/what-is-renewable-energy.php

First I'll Start with the WINDMILL Stay Tuned..

[size=18pt]What is a Windmill?[/size]

Up until recently, people still only had visual impressions of what a windmill is, often associating it with the past and particularly before the industrial revolution. Today, things have come full circle, if you will and there is now a growing demand for large, technologically advanced windmills across the world. The term wind energy or wind power describe the process through which wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into electrical energy by the use of generator.

What this introductory guide seeks to do is describe the apparatus in layman’s terms and also outline how they work and what they were intended for originally and the purposes for which they are used today. We begin with a brief definition of what a windmill is.

It was originally a structure with sails, much like that on pre-industrial ships, and was originally used to produce flour from corn. In order to do this, the wind would have to prompt the sails to turn. They were also originally built by master craftsmen.
A dictionary definition explains it thus; it is a machine which is propelled by the wind from a horizontal shaft which extended onto sails. Windmills still used today, mainly in parts of the world which have traditionally relied on them, are powered by electricity or water.
The dictionary expounds this definition further by relating it to a human physical exercise technique which replicates the symbolism and movement of the original windmill. It is also famously symbolic in Cervantes’ classic of Don Quixote. This definition reminds readers that the original mill was also used to pump water and generate power.
In modern terms, the advanced windmill operates with just three blades mainly to generate sustainable sources of electricity and energy. Today, these windmills are also referred to as wind turbines.
According to Wikipedia, “A windmill is a mill that converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades.”



Fixed speed windmills run at one speed no matter what the speed of wind is and use gearbox (gearbox has gears which convert the slow speed of the spinning blades into higher-speed rotary motion) to generate electricity at the right frequency for the grid whereas variable speed windmills speed up and down as the wind speeds up and down

How Does a Windmill Work?

Winds are produced due to uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the earth and the irregularities of the earth’s surface. Wind flow patterns differ from place to place and are modified by bodies of water, vegetation, and differences in terrain. This next section explains briefly but accurately how windmills work. Sourcing more extensive information, readers will learn that understanding technical processes initiated in wind turbines will be easy to follow because the manner in which windmills work follows a simple process. Here we continue to rely on layman’s terms.

A number of different options were tried when modern wind turbines were first built. Today, the universal mechanizing principle is to operate the turbine by using just three blades placed around a rotor which is connected to a shaft. Note that number of variations have been tried, two blade and even one blade. But, three blades works the best.

As its name states, the windmill’s only source of energy is derived from the wind. The wind turns the blades which spins a shaft, in turn, prompt a generator to produce electricity. These blades are connected to a generator, sometimes through a gearbox and sometimes directly. In both the cases, the generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Interestingly, most modern turbines turn in a clockwise direction.

Depending on wind speed, most modern turbines can operate at speeds from as little as four meters per second to as much as 15 mps.
Quite a number of green energy advocates and NGO’s describe the wind-generator process more succinctly by correlating it closely with the environmental sustainability initiatives.

Once the turbine’s blades turns a shaft located inside of a box placed on top of the turbine, gearbox mode is propelled and more speed rotation is given off. A transformer within the turbine then converts electricity into a voltage suitable for distribution to a national grid.

Main Purpose of Modern Wind Turbine

By now, most readers will know that modern windmills (turbines) primary purpose is to produce electricity from wind with as little impact on the environment as possible. These next few notes simply highlight this sustainable initiative. The minimal impact on the environment is, however, controversial. We’ll mention this briefly too.

Whether located in rural or urban sectors, it is often people on the lowest level of the socio-economic scale that are faced with looking at these hegemonic structures every day. Also, nature lovers continue to voice legitimate concerns on how these turbines impact migratory patterns of bird species.
Already mentioned, the basic function of a wind turbine is to utilize the power generated from wind and convert it into usable (renewable) energy. On a smaller scale, home users can install their own turbine and produce their own power at little or no cost.
As renewable energy, it can be reproduced continuously until there is enough power to feed its designated locations. It is also promoted as a clean source of energy and while not yet widely used, it is ideal for the world’s least developed nations as an affordable source of producing electricity.
Most importantly, the turbine contributes greatly to reduce fossil fuel consumption. It goes without saying that the more countries that use them, the greater the reduction in fossil fuel use because it has been proven to be a reliable driver of energy.

The Iconic Dutch Windmill

Earlier, we made reference to the windmill being part of a nation’s traditional method of generating power. Most people today will still associate the windmill as a Dutch symbol and recognize it as part of that province’s rich history and cultural heritage.

Peculiarly, when we talk about the Dutch, we locate them to Holland, a federal province of European Union Member, the Netherlands. Here are just a few brief interesting facts about the Dutch windmill.

As a landmark icon of Holland, there are more than a thousand windmills located across the province.
The first windmill was built around the middle of the eighteenth century in response to the need to drain the Kinderdijk polder and surrounding polders. Situated on land below sea level, the Netherlands is one of the most vulnerable countries where rising sea levels are concerned.
Throughout Dutch history, windmills have been used for many different purposes, but the best known remains the intricate process of pumping water from the lowlands and into nearby rivers.

Main Components of a Windmill

To help understand how the modern wind turbine works we can also take a look at some of its main components and what they are used for. Here are just a few features of the wind turbine.

Blades – We should mention this apparatus once more because it is the most recognizable and most important feature of the wind turbine. Another function of the blade worth mentioning is that it control’s rotor speed to prevent it from turning in winds that are either too high or low.

Rotor – To follow on from the first point here, this is the technical term for the entire hub. It is also known as a propeller.

Anemometer – This important feature measures wind speed and transfers the recorded data to a controller.

Tower – This is another recognizable feature of the wind turbine. The towers of today’s turbines are made from steel and concrete.

Positive Effects of the Wind Turbine

Finally, it is incumbent to emphasize the importance of wind turbines where environmental sustainability is concerned and as a rapid but highly effective response to global warming and climate change.

The exponential benefits are not only crucial but already evident where wind turbines are used increasingly, mainly in developed and developing nations. To finish this guide on windmills and its natural successors, wind turbines, we highlight some positive effects they have on humankind and the environment.

No more greenhouse gases – Turbines do not emit carbon dioxide.

Power is free – No government agency can presently regulate wind. So they cannot charge fees to those who choose to use it as an alternative source of life-sustaining and life-saving energy.

Versatility – There is a perception in some areas that the only modern day wind turbines you are likely to see are giant monstrosities hovering over your home. Not the case, because smaller wind turbines, small enough and perfectly equipped, are being manufactured for you today. All you need do is talk to the farmers who are already utilizing customized turbines for their own agricultural needs.

Positively speaking, this may have been a whirl-wind tour of processes, purposes, features and just causes along with some historical anecdotes on ancient windmills and the modern day equivalent of the wind turbine. The main purpose here was also to stimulate increased awareness and interest in this important piece of humankind’s legacy for the future.

Source - http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/how-windmills-work.php

Our Next Topic is SOlar Energy

[size=18pt]What is Solar Energy?[/size]

Solar energy is something that we have really been looking into in recent years, if for no other reason than to try and find a better way to deal with getting energy without hurting the environment. If you don’t know a lot about solar energy, it is basically energy that we get from the sun that we convert into energy that we can use, whether that energy is used for electricity or for heating/cooling.

Solar energy simply means energy that comes from the sun. Sun is a powerful source of energy. Without it, there would have been no life on the Earth. It is renewable, free, widely available and clean form of energy that is currently in use by many home and business owners for variety of purposes.



In this article, we’re going to give you a closer look at exactly how solar energy works and, in particular, what solar panels are and how they can help us to achieve our goals when it comes to using solar energy in an effective manner. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at the cleanest type of energy that we have access to in today’s world.

Continue Reading for More...

How Does Solar Energy Work?

Solar energy is all about converting the energy from the sun into energy that we can use. There are three major ways that we can do this.

Photovoltaic Processes (PV): Photovoltaic processes happen with PV devices, which take the sunlight and make it into electricity.
PV processes use materials that are known for naturally changing sunlight into electricity, which are known in the science world as semiconductors. When the sunlight hits these semiconductors, they produce electrons, which are pushed through the device and make a current.
PV devices are still in development at this point in time; some rays of light, including UV and infrared, cannot be utilized by PV devices. This can be problematic when the sun is not shining brightly and these are the main rays that are being produced.

Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC): Solar heating and cooling (SHC) is all about thermal energy. The energy that is created from the sun is switched into energy that can be used to either heat or cool the devices that are being powered. At this point, there are processes that can help in almost any context that you can imagine, from commercial buildings to homes. The main reason that solar heating and cooling devices are necessary is because we need to reduce our dependence on natural gases and other fossil fuels. Technology in the SHC sector is always changing and adapting, and advances are being made in this area of science every single day.

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP): Concentrating solar power, usually referred to as CSP, are some of the newest technologies that are out there, even though the concept is not as new as many think it is. People have used the concept behind it for a very long time, which is why it’s shocking that it’s taken so long for us to actually harness it on a larger scale.
Mirrors are the main focus of CSP plants; they concentrate the energy from the sun to cause everything to work effectively. Without the mirrors, CSP systems would not work as effectively as some of the other systems that are currently out on the market today.
The sun’s energy then makes steam engines and turbines go so that the electricity can be produced and stored. This makes it different than the other types because the storage system is a lot more advanced than what you see from the other types of solar energy that are currently being used.

Currently, there are just over 1500 different CSP plants located throughout the entire United States; there are over 400 more to be planned within the next 5 years. By the 2020’s, the plan is to have over 3000 CSP’s working throughout the country, with over 5000 throughout the entire world.

What are Solar Panels?

Now that we’ve looked at all of the different types of solar power that is out there and how it works, now we’re going to look at one of the most common devices that are utilized to get solar energy from the sun – solar panels. Let’s take a closer look.

Solar panels are a type of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy, which we explored in more detail above. In short, the energy from the sun goes through semiconductors, which in turn create the electricity and develop it so that it can be utilized effectively.

Solar panels take all kinds of light, not just the sun, and turns it into energy over time. The sun is just where the majority of the light comes from.

On the solar panels, they have a mass amount of solar cells. A cell by itself cannot do much, but a group of cells can help to create enough energy to power whatever it is that they are trying to power.

Solar cells are tiny disks, usually made of something like silicon. The solar cells will only produce power as long as they are being hit by light – once the light is taken away from the cell, then you will not get any more power.

This is why many solar panels are equipped with the ability to turn the cells toward the place where the light source is coming from at a specific point in time. Solar panels are the main way that the space station, along with various other astronomical technologies, get the electricity that they need in order to take care of all of the energy needs that they utilize in the space station.

Solar panels are incredibly efficient, and they will be even more so depending on the type of concentrators that you put in there. Technology for solar panels is always changing, so it’s important to keep an eye on the technology and update as you deem necessary. If you use solar panels as part of your solar energy plan, you will be able to save a lot of money with your monthly power bills, which is a huge reason that many people have decided to try these out for themselves.

The most well built solar panels are very hardy and can last for a long time if they are well taken care of. The weather around the area in which you are utilizing the solar panels will have a large effect on how long your solar panels are going to last. Wear and tear can cause some major issues if you don’t keep track of how well that they are doing in a period of time.

Fun fact: Sometimes, solar panels in space get damaged by comets, meteorites, and other “space junk;” this requires the astronauts to go out and make the proper repairs when necessary

Advantages of Solar Energy

1. Renewable and Sustainable: Solar power is renewable and sustainable. Sun is going to shine till the end of this planet. It all depend on us how can we make best use of resources and use this free source of energy to power our homes and offices.

2. Power Remote Areas: This clean and renewable source of power has proved boon for people living in remote areas and not necessarily connected to national grid.

3. No Pollution: Solar energy is silent and produces no pollution at all. This is one of the big reason why it is favored by many people all around the world.

4. Surplus Electricity: The surplus electricity that is generated can be send back to the power grid and you can get rebate in your monthly electricity bill.

5. Reduce Electricity Bills: The electricity that is generated can be used to power fans, lights, charge mobiles and much more. It is free, renewable, can be produced on demand and also helps you to bring down your monthly electricity bill.

6. Low Maintenance: Solar panels when installed, require little or no maintenance. They require cleaning only few times a year.

7. Job Creation: The solar energy sector has open tremendous opportunities for people. Without doubt, it has slightly reduced the unemployment rate in a country.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

1. Initial Investment: An initial investment is what is required if you need to harness energy from the sun. This cost can however pay itself in 10-15 years time frame depending on the amount of energy harnessed and the money saved in buying electricity from local grid.

2. Available During Daytime: Solar energy can only be harnessed during daytime. This simply means you can use this source of energy for half a day only.

3. Not Effective During Cloudy or Rainy Seasons: Cloudy and rainy seasons reduce the effectiveness of solar panels. This is the reason why solar energy is not successful in areas where it remains cloudy for most of the time of the year.

4. Large Setup Required: For a large business owner, a huge setup may be required to harness solar energy as its demand for energy may be more which may not get fulfilled by installing solar panels just at the rooftops.

5. Expensive Storage: The energy harnessed from the sun needs to be stored in the batteries to make it available for use later at home or office. The cost of these batteries may influence a buyer’s decision to go for solar power.

There are a number of things that solar power is used for, and as the technology continues to move forward, even more of those things will come to light and it will become a lot easier for us to snatch the power from the sun and use it to power everything that we have. It is really smart and innovative to go out and invest in these technologies as they continue to move forward and change the way that we look at and embrace the world around us.

Source - http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/what-is-solar-energy.php

Well done man!

solarview:
Well done man!

Thanks Bro.. Stay Tuned for more..

Bravo, very educative

[size=15pt]Geothermal Energy[/size]

Geothermal comes from the greek word Geo which means earth and thermal which means heat. So,Geothermal energy means energy or power extracted from beneath the earth. The energy inside the earth was formed by the decay of minerals and forests several years ago. Traditionally, it was used for bathing and heating purposes but today it is also used for generating electricity. Geothermal energy is called renewable source of energy because heat is continuously produced inside the earth.



This heat is brought to the near-surface by thermal conduction and by intrusion into the earth’s crust of molten magma originating from great depth. As groundwater is heated, geothermal energy is produced in the form of hot water and steam.

Geothermal energy is produced inside the earth’s surface. The earth’s layer consists of innermost layer called Iron Core which itself has two layers: solid iron core and an outer core made of hard rock, called magma, mantle which surrounds the core and the outermost layer called crust which forms oceans and continents.

When magma comes close to the earth’s surface i.e. crust it heats up the ground water which gets trapped in porous rocks. They may also flow along faults and fractured rock surfaces. Now these hydrothermal resources have 2 ingredients: water (Hydro) and heat (thermal). When these hydrothermal resources occur naturally these are called Geothermal reservoirs. Various tools and techniques are used nowadays to detect geothermal reservoirs.

Geothermal Energy Existence

Geothermal energy exists in the form of: 1) Volcanoes 2) Hot Springs 3) Geysers

Geothermal energy is clean and sustainable and environment friendly. It may be noted that the so called ‘ring of fire’ of the Earth envelopes the Pacific rim. Though there are over 300 hot springs sites in India, this form of energy is yet to be tapped. In USA, California generates highest amount of electricity through Geothermal energy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBHHqw6TRXk

Future Of Geothermal Energy

The future of geothermal energy depends on three factors: it’s demand, supply and it’s competitiveness among other renewable resources in terms of cost, availability, reliability etc.. Demand for geothermal energy is going to increase and increase with the increase in the population and extinction of other non-renewable sources. Moreover, today government also support the resources which are cleaner and do not spoil the environment.

Supply of geothermal energy is limited and confined to certain areas only. The entire resource of geothermal energy is fairly bigger than that of coal, oil and gas. Geothermal energy can be made more widely available if the methods and technologies used to extract it are improved. Geothermal energy is still not explored fully. Several miles below the earth surface is hot, dry rock being heated by the molten magma directly below it.

Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons

The temperature at earth’s core exists at roughly 7200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is due to the decay of radioactive materials millions of years ago. The high temperature beneath the earth’s surface can produce enormous amount of energy that could produce several gigawatts of electricity. Technically speaking, geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy that can produce energy as long as earth exists.

Geothermal energy is a type of energy that can really make it easy for companies to get what they need without using a lot of fossil fuels in the process. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the most important pros and cons that are related to using geothermal energy for your home or for your business when it comes to energy.



Pros of Geothermal Energy

1. Renewable: Geothermal energy is extracted from earth’s core and will be available as long as earth exists. It is therefore renewable and can be used for roughly another 4-5 billion years. While fossil fuels have an expiry date, renewable sources like geothermal energy is not going to expire anytime soon.

2. Environment Friendly: Geothermal energy is green in all aspects of its production and use! It is actually known for having the least impact of any power source. When it comes to the process of developing and making it, geothermal power is practically completely emission free. There is absolutely zero carbon used when it comes to the production of this type of power. Also, the whole procedure can clean out sulfur that may have generally been discharged from other processes.

3. No Fuel Needed: No fuel is used at all during the production and use of the energy. Why? Because there is absolutely no mining or transportation related to the process, which means that there aren’t trucks emitting fumes and gas, which means that the atmosphere is not being as affected by the process.

4. Abundant Supply: With geothermal energy, there are no shortages or other sorts of problems that sometimes occur with other types of power. They are not subject to the same issues as solar or wind power, which means that you won’t get a shortage because the weather isn’t cooperating with what you want. There is a practically boundless supply. It is also intrinsically basic and dependable, so you don’t have to worry about it being more of a hassle than it is actually worth.

5. Significant Savings for Home Owners: There has been a tremendous increase in the number of homeowners who want to utilize geothermal energy for heating and cooling purposes. The result is that less energy is used for heating homes and offices which results in significant savings for home owners. It might prove expensive initially but 30-60% savings on heating and 25-50% savings on cooling can cover that cost within few years. A geothermal heat pump can help you save enough money in energy costs.

6. Smallest Land Footprint: Geothermal energy extracts heat from hot water, the steam from hot water move the turbines that produce electricity. To extract this energy, substantial amount of piping is required to be laid underground. But, thanks to new innovation in the field of technology, geothermal energy has the smallest land footprint of any major energy source in the world.

The costs are very competitive. As of now, geothermal energy is quite cost aggressive in a few areas where it is being produced, so you want to keep an eye on how much it is changing the world of energy in the areas where it is located.

7. Innovation in Technology: When it comes to green energy, geothermal energy is one of the first types that is being explored. New innovations are coming out for it all of the time, which means that it will likely be easier to deal with some of the difficulties with the technology as time goes on. It can also be manufactured underground. New innovations that are coming out are basically guaranteed to be able to use lower temperatures in future iterations of the technology as well.

Cons of Geothermal Energy

1. Suitable to Particular Region: Everything that deals with geothermal power seems to be really far away from, well, everything that is in and around the area. Prime destinations are exceptionally zone specific, so you can’t really find geothermal power outside of those areas. Also, the prime destinations are frequently a long way from urban areas, which means that they’re virtually useless when it comes to cities and such.

2. High Initial Costs: For those residential owners who are thinking to use geothermal energy, high upfront costs is something that turns out to be a huge setback to them. For an average sized home, installation of geothermal heat pumps costs between $10,000 – $20,000 that can pay off itself in another 5-10 years down the line through significant cost savings.

3. Cost of Powering the Pump: Geothermal heat pumps still needs a power source that can run it. The pumps needs electricity to run that can transfer energy from earth’s core to the home. For a homeowner who is planning to go green, can use few solar panels that can power heat pump to draw energy from the earth’s reservoir.

4. Surface Instability: Geothermal has become infamous for causing earthquakes as setting up of geothermal power plants can alter the land’s structure. A process called hydraulic fracturing is an integral part for building a large scale and efficient geothermal system power plants that can trigger earthquakes.

5. Environmental Concerns: There are some environmental concerns. Water use is one of the big concerns, because geothermal power uses a lot of water in its processes and such. There are also a number of different compounds that go into the air, water, and ground as a result of the process, including sulfur dioxide and silica discharges, both of which can harm the environment if you aren’t careful about it.

Sometimes, you have to deal with some technical difficulties as a result of the way that geothermal power is used. Misfortunes can occur because of how far the power has to travel, and mistakes can occur sometimes that make it difficult for the energy to get to people in an efficient manner.

6. High Temperatures Needed: The process is not exactly an easy one for you to execute. Boring into warmed rock is extremely troublesome. In order for geothermal processes to begin, you also need the area in question to be at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise the processes may not occur as you wish them to.

7. May Run Out of Steam: You have to be incredibly careful when you are trying to check everything that is related to geothermal energy. Mind must be taken to watch the heat and not to abuse it, because if the heat is not taken care of properly, it can cause a meltdown or other issues where the energy is not properly distributed or used.

Source - http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-geothermal-energy.php