What Is Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy refers to a renewable source of energy coming from heat inside the earth. It is renewable because the earth’s core continues to produce heat, and water can be replenished with rain. The heat from inside the earth is a product of the radioactive decay of elements inside the earth such as thorium, potassium, and uranium.The word “geothermal” was derived from the Greek words for earth and heat: “geo” and “therme”.

From its reservoir deep under the earth’s surface, geothermal energy makes its way out through natural outlets such as volcanoes, fumaroles, geysers, and hot springs. The concentration of geothermal energy on the earth’s surface is usually found in areas along or near boundaries of the earth’s plates. It is in these areas where volcanoes, earthquakes and other geothermal activities are experienced most frequently.

Providing power for use in many different operations and activities, geothermal energy serves as a very important energy resource. It has a high potential for use since it is a renewable type of energy.

With geothermal energy’s important role, people are continuously looking for geothermal energy reservoirs and ideal areas for extracting geothermal energy from underground. One of the ways of verifying the existence of a geothermal energy is by drilling a well and checking the temperature from deep underground. This is done through advanced technologies and methods developed by scientists worldwide.

Geothermal heat is extracted by pumping water to the geothermal reservoir through pipes, letting the water boil, and making use of the steam to run a turbine that collects power. After, that, the water is re-condensed and the cycle begins again.