| Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy is heat (thermal) derived from the earth (geo). It is the thermal energy contained in the rock and fluid (that fills the fractures and pores within the rock) in the earth's crust.
In most areas, this heat reaches the surface in a very diffuse state. However, due to a variety of geological processes, some areas, are underlain by relatively shallow geothermal resources.
These resources can be classified as low temperature (less than 90°C or 194°F), moderate temperature (90°C - 150°C or 194 - 302°F), and high temperature (greater than 150°C or 302°F). The uses to which these resources are applied are also influenced by temperature. The highest temperature resources are generally used only for electric power generation.
Uses for low and moderate temperature resources can be divided into two categories: direct use and ground-source heat pumps.
Direct use, as the name implies, involves using the heat in the water directly (without a heat pump or power plant) for such things as heating of buildings, industrial processes, greenhouses, aquaculture and resorts. Direct use projects generally use resource temperatures between 38°C (100°F) to 149°C (300°F). .
Ground-source heat pumps use the earth or groundwater as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer. Using resource temperatures of 4°C (40°F) to 38°C (100°F), the heat pump, a device which moves heat from one place to another, transfers heat from the soil to the house in winter and from the house to the soil in summer.
The key to wider geothermal use is greater public awareness and technical support.
Latest Geothermal Energy newsUK councils now permitted to sell green electricity10/07/2010A ban on councils in the UK selling green electricity into the national grid is to be overturned, UK Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne announces.
The UK's Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 as amended by the Energy Act 1989 gives local authorities power to sell heat,...  Eigg Offers Itslelf As A Blueprint For UK Renewables05/07/2010The Scottish west coast island of Eigg has managed to halve carbon emissions from the average household by generating more than 90 per cent of electricity from renewables.
The 95 residents also save energy by heating water with solar pane...  Creating Value From Waste Heat21/06/2010Turboden, a Pratt & Whitney Power Systems company with 30 years of expertise and experience in the design and manufacture of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generation systems, has entered the UK market with the sale of two 1 MWe modular heat r...  US Oil Spill Shows Urgent Need For Clean Energy10/06/2010As new estimates show the Gulf oil spill to be the biggest in U.S. history, and images of birds and sea turtles covered in oil begin to surface, the call to end offshore drilling in this country is growing.While images of oiled wildlife and b...  Renewable Heating Technology31/05/2010Renewable heating systems make sure of naturally occurring energy sources such a geothermal enegy and solar energy. These renewable heating systems absorb and convert this naturally occurring energy to provide us with heat and hot water for our homes... | | Featured Geothermal Energy company Worcester, Bosch Group, is a leading manufacturer of high efficiency heating and hot water appliances for the home. The company has recently added a number of new condensing oil-fired boilers, in advance of legislative changes, to its already extensive product portfolio of Greenstar high efficiency (SEDBUK A rated) natural gas, oil-fired and LPG boilers and heating controls to suit any household o... more info » |
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