21 Interesting Facts about Geothermal Energy – What are They?

Geothermal energy is one of the popular sources of renewable energy like solar energy and wind energy but most of us might not know much about geothermal power and its benefits in our day-to-day life.

Geothermal is a source of affordable, sustainable, and clean energy. Some interesting facts about geothermal energy are provided in this article to help you in making decisions while planning to invest in it as an alternative source of energy or if you’re simply curious and looking for facts.

But before discussing some interesting facts about geothermal energy you must know what it is.

What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is the heat energy produced by the earth as the literal meaning of geo is earth and that of thermal is heat, now you know how is geothermal energy generated. The heat extorted from the earth’s lower layers can be used in various applications like cooling, heating, therapies, and bathing, etc.

Some interesting facts about geothermal energy

• Being a renewable source of energy, geothermal energy continues to refill itself forever. It is termed as a source of renewable energy because it is generated by the heat inside the water and the earth. The water inside the earth is refilled by rainfall. Both rainfall and earth’s internal heat are natural processes that will continue until the end of the earth, this is just one of the geothermal energy advantages available to us.

• The use of geothermal energy as a source of green energy is growing at a very fast speed. It is assumed that by the end of 2020 the industry of geothermal power will grow up to $30 billion. To decrease the effect of global warming many governments throughout the world are interested in using geothermal energy heavily for the last few years. Almost $88 billion subsidies were granted all over the world in 2011 for using the sources of renewable energy.

• Heat pumps based on geothermal energy are backed by attractive warranties of up to 25 years, on the working of the internal components of these pumps. More than 50 years is the lifespan of the ground loop pumps.

• Geothermal energy locations. Nearly 25% of the electricity produced in Europe is based on geothermal power. In May 2014 a report published in Europe has revealed the fact that geothermal heating systems exist in over 4,000 districts all over Europe. In various European countries like Germany, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands, etc. geothermal energy is liked very much.

• What is geothermal energy used for? In the UK, geothermal energy has been used in various areas like hot springs in Bath since the time of Romans. In various British cities like Newcastle, Southampton, Eastgate, and Cornwall, etc. geothermal projects proved to be extremely beneficial as they have exploited this energy source successfully since Roman times.

• How is geothermal energy used? Most of the energy produced through geothermal units is used for heating and cooling homes and generating electricity as well as supplying hot water to swimming pools, therapeutic treatments, and bathing, etc.

• In Iceland, the major source of producing electricity is geothermal energy because there are vast natural locations for this natural energy in this country. Almost 87% of the homes are heated in Iceland through 25% of the electricity produced by geothermal sources of energy. Iceland can greatly use geothermal energy due to its strategic location near the volcanoes.

• The rank of the US among the countries installing geothermal heat pumps is also high because thermal pumps were installed in nearly one million homes until now and more than 60,000 of these pumps are expected to install every year in this country.

• Where is geothermal energy used? Across the globe geothermal power is used as a source of energy in over 20 countries including the UK, the US, France, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, China, Lithuania, Russia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Nicaragua, etc.

• Nearly ten thousand years ago, hot springs were used for cooking by Paleo-Indians in North Africa. The warriors of rival tribes used to take baths in these springs without any problem as the areas around these springs were considered to be neutral.

• The power plant of geothermal energy, situated in the Geysers Complex in the mountains of Mayacamas, nearly 72 miles in the northern part of San Francisco, California, is the largest geothermal power plant. It includes 22 units with a capacity to produce up to 1520 MW geothermal power.

• At present, in 3 areas of technology, including heat pumps to heat and cool buildings, power plants to generate electricity and heating applications to heat structures directly, geothermal energy is mainly used.

• To find the exact location of the source of geothermal energy geologists use various types of technologies. But determining the temperature under the earth by drilling a well is considered as the best and the most reliable method in this regard.

• The plants for generating power in the western part of the US have the capacity to generate geothermal power up to nearly 2,850 MW. Almost 2% of the electricity produced in Utah, 6% in California, and 10% in Northern Nevada is the energy produced through geothermal resources.

• A pool made of stone, located at Chinese Lisan Mountain, is considered as the oldest spa that uses the water from natural hot springs as it was supposed to be established in the 3rd century BC.

• To help in melting ice on the roads and pavements in some areas of Iceland, hot water from the plants of geothermal power is used.

• According to scientists in the U.S. by 2050 10% of the energy produced in the country will be geothermal energy.

• Where is geothermal energy found? For producing geothermal energy the heat is trapped nearly 4,000 miles deep in the core of the earth. Its temperature can be much higher than boiling water as it is nearly 9,000 degrees F or 5,000 degrees C.

• It has been revealed through various studies that the source of geothermal energy is limited. But according to certain activities in this direction have considered it as a source of renewable energy for 5,000 to 1,000,000 years.

• By financially supporting a research at the University of Southern Methodist, Google, a tech giant has also entered in the field of geothermal energy to find out the ways to use this energy in the latest technologies.

• In 1904, the geothermal power plant established in Larderello, Italy was the first-ever plant of its kind on this earth.

I think the interesting facts about geothermal energy provided in this article might have helped you to know more about the evolution of geothermal energy and geothermal power and its use in various geothermal projects.

Now why not read my article Everything You Need to Know About Thermal Energy or find more information at Student Energy.

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