Is Geothermal Energy Kinetic Or Potential?

Geothermal Energy is heat energy produced and stored within the Earth. The Greek word “Geo” means Earth, and “therme” means heat. The term ‘Geothermal’ came from that.

We know energy can be of two forms. The energy stored within an object for its position is called potential energy, and the energy of an object due to its motion is kinetic energy.

You may think, what kind of energy is geothermal energy? Is it potential energy or kinetic energy?

Geothermal energy is both potential and kinetic. The geothermal energy of the Earth’s crust originates from the formation of the planet and the radioactive decay of materials stored in the subsurface of our Earth. The geothermal gradient, which is the difference in temperature between the core of the planet and its surface, drives a continuous conduction of thermal energy in the form of heat from the core to the surface.

We can thus use this heat energy to fulfill our energy requirements in everyday life.

Why Should You Know About Geothermal Energy? 

Today almost all forms of energy that are consumed here on Earth are generated from fossil fuels. We all know the coal, natural gas, or oil reserves will be exhausted one day.

That one day is not very far! With the increasing population and advancement in technology, we need more and more energy to run the civilization. Studies say if we keep using fossil fuels at the current rate, we will run out of all our fossil fuels by 2060. So, don’t you think this time is crucial to look for alternatives!

Geothermal energy is one of the most beneficial alternatives that we are looking for. The heat energy stored in the subsurface of the Earth is known as Geothermal energy. The inner layers of our Earth get the continuous heat energy from the radioactive decay of heavy elements.

 The temperature of the core is as much as the temperature of the surface of the Sun. We can use this renewable source of energy with almost no harmful effect on the environment.

Before we try to understand if geothermal energy is kinetic or potential, let’s discuss potential and kinetic energy in general.

What Is Potential Energy?

Mechanical energy has two forms- potential energy and kinetic energy. These two forms of energy together state the motion, force, momentum, or other physical attributes of any object.

 The energy that is stored in an object due to its position, stress within itself, or electric charge is known as potential energy. A ball lifted up to a certain height possesses potential energy.

The water behind any dam, a rock on the edge of a cliff, an end-tied elastic string all have potential energy due to their position or stress within themselves. So, the energy possessed by a body at rest is its potential energy.

What Is Kinetic Energy?

When a body is moving with speed, then the energy it has is kinetic energy. Any moving object has kinetic energy. If we move an object applying force, we are performing work.

This is the typical concept of work done. Work done is equivalent to energy. The amount of work done by the force on a body equals the amount of energy gained by the body.

If we move a body by force, the work done is converted to kinetic energy. As the body has motion, the energy is truly kinetic. A running bus, flying bird, a ball falling from a height under gravity, spin of the wheels of a turbine all of these have kinetic energy.

Know more about Potential and Kinetic Energy here in this video.

Is Geothermal Energy Potential Energy?

The energy held by an object due to its position, shape, or stress is known as Potential energy. Geothermal energy is the heat energy stored inside the Earth, so it is potential.

Geothermal energy is a kind of thermal energy that is produced by the radioactive decay of the heavy elements trapped inside the Earth at the time of the Earth’s formation.

This thermal potential energy can be used directly as hot water springs or geothermal pockets on the Earth’s surface. Some places have high geothermal potential stored beneath and hence known as the pockets of energy (in volcanic, sedimentary, or hot rocks).

Well, if you ask if geothermal energy is potential energy, then definitely it is.

Is Geothermal Kinetic Energy?

The thermal potential energy that is trapped in the sub-surface of the Earth can be used to drive turbines to generate electricity. Applying the heat energy, we spin the turbine, transforming it into kinetic energy. The potential energy of the Earth itself generates kinetic energy. This is also the main principle of making geothermal power plants. Magma, lava, steam vents, geysers, etc. these all are sources of geothermal energy that can be used directly or to produce electricity.

Just like any other form of heat energy, geothermal energy is found in both kinetic and potential forms. Better to say Geothermal energy is a sum-up form of kinetic and potential energy.

Uses of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy can be used variously. The uses can be classified mainly as direct-use, binary power stations, heat pumps (GHPs). Geothermal energy has more usability than your imagination.

To harness geothermal energy, we need to exploit the heat within the Earth and move it to the place where it can be then used to generate other forms of energy. And we can use it for industrial, agricultural, and domestic purposes with equal benefits and ease.

Direct Uses of Geothermal Energy

The mud pots, hot water springs, or other geothermal reservoirs near the Earth’s surface that we can access easily are used directly. Comparatively, low-temperature resources (112-302 F) are directly used. Hot water is piped into the buildings for direct heating. This can be done for an individual building or a whole area, depending upon the intensity of the energy.

Hot springs are used for bathing, cooking, and the mineral-rich water from the springs is well regarded for health benefits. Industrial direct use includes milk pasteurization, fruit or vegetable drying, and large-scale snow melting, etc.

Natural Hot Spring, Colorado Mountains

Heat Pumps

If we go 1000 feet below the mean sea level (earth surface), we get a stable, moderate heat signature that can be used to heat or cool buildings via Heat Geothermal Pumps or GHPs.

There are two types of GHPs – ground-coupled closed-loop and water source open loop. The main idea is to use the heated fluid through pipelines to heat up buildings and transfer heat energy to the Earth when needed. It is one of the most environmentally friendly self-sustaining systems.

Geothermal Power Plant:

Geothermal power stations are similar to other steam turbine thermal power stations. In a fossil fuel-run power station, heat from a fuel source is used to heat water or other working fluid.

In the geothermal case, we get the heat energy from the Earth’s core. The working fluid is then used to turn a turbine of a generator, thereby producing electricity.

In 2012 the United States led the world in geothermal electricity production with 3386 megawatts of installed capacity. The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California.

Geothermal Power Plant

Geothermal Energy As Renewable Resources:

Its source is an almost unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth’s core. Even in geothermal areas dependent on a reservoir of hot water, the volume taken out can be reinjected, making it a sustainable energy source.

Geothermal technologies offer many environmental advantages over conventional power generation.

Emissions are low. Geothermal flash plants emit only excess steam. Geothermal binary power plants are the most promising technology for generating energy. These plants do not emit any air or discharge any liquid into the environment.

Salts and dissolved minerals contained in geothermal fluids are usually reinjected with excess water back into the reservoir at a depth well below groundwater aquifers. This recycles the geothermal water and replenishes the reservoir.

The City of Santa Rosa, California, pipes the city’s treated wastewater up to The Geysers power plants for reinjection fluid. This system will prolong the life of the reservoir as it recycles the treated wastewater.

Some geothermal plants do produce some solid materials, or sludges, that require disposal in approved sites. Some of these solids are now being extracted for sale (zinc, silica, and sulfur, for example), making the resource even more valuable and environmentally friendly. 

Comparison With Other Energies

Reykjavik, Iceland is considered one of the cleanest cities in the world. 95 percent of buildings there use Geothermal Energy for heating. Geothermal energy is clean because nearly no carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gases are released by it.

Geothermal energy is completely renewable as the heat inside the Earth is constantly replaced. As the energy is generated almost near the power plants, the processing and transportation cost is zero compared to other forms of energy.

The binary Geothermal power plants are more efficient than fossil fuel or nuclear power plants as they can run 24 hours persistently all year long. Geothermal energy is considerably more beneficial than wind, hydro, or solar power, as it is always available and easily accessible.

Wind or solar energy gets affected by unpredictable natural conditions. The heat energy inside the Earth is indifferent to any weather conditions so, while looking for a green energy source, geothermal energy seems to be a wise option.

The Areas Where Geothermal Resources can be Found

Geothermal reservoirs are the naturally occurring area of Hydrothermal resources. These reservoirs are deep underground and are largely undetectable above ground.

Geothermal energy finds its way to the Earth’s surface in three ways:

1)Volcanoes and fumaroles (holes where volcanic gases are released)

2)Hot springs

3)Geysers

Most Geothermal resources are near tectonic plate boundaries, where earthquakes and volcanoes are located. One of the most active geothermal areas in the world is called the Ring of Fire. This area encircles the Pacific Ocean.

Geologists use various methods to find geothermal reservoirs. Drilling a well and testing the temperature deep underground is the most reliable method for locating a Geothermal reservoir.

Storage Process Of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal heating and cooling applications are generally considered to be on the cutting edge of sustainability and energy conservation in the U.S., where ground source heat pump (GSHP) applications are established and rapidly growing.

While we acknowledge the energy savings and comfort that a properly designed and constructed GSHP system can provide, we consider the state of the U.S. geothermal market to be, well, conventional.

Why We Choose This Subject

Nowadays, the primary source of energy is Thermal energy generated by Coal or Petroleum. But both of those resources are non-renewable resources.

Most of the local people think of Wind Energy, Hydropower, Solar power as renewable resources. The amount of both these resources are limited in nature. So, we will find energy resources in the future.

But there are good energy resources that can be found by Geothermal energy. So, we made this poster to popularize Geothermal energy resources. They should know about the large amount of renewable energy stored beneath us.

The advantages and disadvantages of Geothermal energy can show us a brilliant way to decide how we can make the most out of it.

Advantages of Using Geothermal Energy

1. No fuel required

2. Renewable

3. No noise- it is an almost silent energy source. Once the construction is complete geothermal power plants are quiet while functioning.

4. Environment friendly

5. Almost unlimited supply

6. Zero cost in the direct use of geothermal energy.

Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy

Even though Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable green energy, there are some difficulties with using it.

1. High cost of setting up power plants, heat pumps at both industrial and personal levels.

2. Location restriction- not all places have a good amount of heat below the surface to put up a geothermal power plant. Also, some areas are so adverse that we can not build one despite great potential.

3. Earthquake-prone areas are found to be suitable geothermal reservoirs.

4. Environmental hazards- some extremely hazardous gases like sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide are produced while drilling down the Earth’s surface.

5. Sustainability problems

These are the common disadvantages that we face about Geothermal energy. However, detailed investigation can show a lot more about the pros and cons of using Geothermal power.

Cost

Setting up a geothermal power plant is initially more costly than fuel plants. In the U.S., the cost for a small power plant with production power of less than 1 megawatt is between $3000-5000 /kilowatt. But this cost is quickly recovered by high electricity production.

According to the government, such a plant’s operating and maintenance cost is $0.01 to $0.03 per kWh.

In 2021, the department of energy estimated 1 kWh of geothermal energy from a power plant should cost about $0.05-$0.06.

A homeowner can expect a tag price of $18,000-$30,000 for installing a completely functional geothermal heating and cooling system. A high-end ground source heat pump for a standard to large house costs an average of $35,000-$45,000.

Future With Geothermal Energy

The United States produces approximately 2,700 megawatts of Geothermal energy with a total of 7000 megawatts production worldwide. This energy production is equivalent to millions (nearly 60 million) barrels of oil burning.

But we are not using adequate geothermal energy available out there. Various geographical barriers must be overcome to drill down to get enough heat energy for sufficient energy production.

Conclusion

Although we are using renewable energy sources like wind power, solar power, biomass energy, etc., we are still dependent on unsustainable fossil fuels to keep up the pace in our life.

But we have to consider the negative impact on the environment due to this unregulated use of fossil fuels. Now we are facing various climate disorders globally, and by the end of this century, we might have to encounter a global environmental catastrophe.

To prevent climate change, global warming, and other alarming problems, we have to start using sustainable energy sources as much as possible.

Geothermal energy is an excellent source of eco-friendly energy.

It is recognized as the most ecologically safe energy with unlimited sources. The initial cost of building geothermal power plants, Heat pumps seems a bit higher.

But that in return offers us pollution-free clean energy with various advantages. So, we must use the potential and kinetic energy of both forms of geothermal energy for its long-term virtues.