How to make the most of geothermal energy in today's world

  • Geothermal energy is generated using the Earth's underground heat.
  • It is a constant and renewable source of energy, with low carbon emissions.
  • The geothermal extraction process requires drilling in areas with high underground temperatures.

Geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling

La geothermal energy It is one of the energies renewable older and at the same time less exploited if we compare it with others such as solar or wind. Despite being a technology that has been known for decades, its use has become more relevant in recent years due to the increase in the demand for sustainable and clean energy sources.

Geothermal energy uses the Earth's internal heat to generate electricity or provide heating. By drilling into the Earth's surface in areas with high thermal activity, deeper layers can be accessed where the temperature is high enough to heat water. This process releases steam that is used to move turbines connected to electricity generators, or directly to heat urban and rural infrastructure. The extraction of this heat is mainly carried out in specific locations, characterized by the presence of geological factors such as volcanoes or tectonic faults, which makes the distribution of geothermal plants uneven across the planet.

The process of extracting geothermal energy

Taking advantage of the geothermal energy It is a technical process that requires drilling into the earth in places where the underground temperature is high enough to make use of thermal resources. This type of energy is found at depths that vary between 3.000 and 10.000 meters below the earth's surface. At these depths, the groundwater is heated by hot rocks until it reaches temperatures that can exceed 300 ºC in certain cases.

The process begins with the drilling of wells that allow water and steam to be extracted from the Earth's interior. This steam is channeled to set in motion one or more turbines that are connected to electric generators. After use, the water and steam can be reinjected into the subsoil so that the cycle begins again, which makes this system a closed cycle which minimizes the massive extraction of underground resources.

Geothermal energy in the world

Types of geothermal resources

There are several types of geothermal resources that can be used to produce energy:

  • Dry geothermal systems: These consist of areas where underground rock formations do not contain water, but have sufficiently high temperatures. These systems require the injection of water into the rocks to produce steam.
  • Dry steam reservoirsIn this type of system, steam is trapped in underground cavities. This steam can be extracted directly to drive the turbines.
  • Hot water reservoirs: These are the most common. In these reservoirs, the groundwater is at a high temperature and, once extracted, it turns into steam when depressurized.
  • Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Here, rock formations are modified by fracturing them (similar to hydraulic fracturing in the gas industry), allowing water to circulate through the cracks and heat up, generating steam.

In terms of technology, there are several ways to convert geothermal heat into electricity:

  1. Dry steam plants: They directly use geothermal steam to move the turbines.
  2. Flash steam plants: High-pressure hot water is decompressed and transformed into steam, which then moves the turbines.
  3. Binary cycle plants: A secondary fluid with a lower boiling point than water is used, allowing energy to be generated in formations with lower temperatures.

Geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling

Advantages of using geothermal energy

Geothermal energy has multiple benefits that make it an attractive alternative to other renewable energy sources:

  • It is a renewable resource, since the amount of thermal energy available inside the Earth is practically unlimited on a human scale.
  • It is capable of generating energy constantly 24 hours of the day, unlike solar or wind energy, which depend on weather conditions and time of day.
  • Geothermal energy has a low carbon footprint, which contributes to the mitigation of climate change. There is no combustion or significant greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The Geothermal plants take up little space compared to solar or hydroelectric plants.

In addition, international studies highlight that geothermal energy can be a key solution for many Developing countries that have significant geothermal potential. Regions such as Africa, Asia and parts of South America They have vast geothermal resources that could help reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and improve access to electricity.

New trend: geothermal energy on a global level

Geothermal energy has gained special relevance in countries such as United States e Indonesia, which are world leaders in both installed capacity and new projects. The United States, for its part, has reached an installed capacity of more than 3.900 MW by 2023, while Indonesia has expanded its capacity to 2.418 MW, with significant investment earmarked for expansion in the coming years.

Other countries like Türkiye, Philippines y Mexico have also made progress in this area. Turkey, for example, has managed to exceed 1.600 MW of installed capacity by 2023 and, although its growth is slower, it remains one of the leading countries in Europe.

uses of geothermal energy advantages and disadvantages

Challenges and disadvantages

Despite its many advantages, the use of geothermal energy is not without its challenges. The first limitation is that geothermal resources are only found in specific geographic areas, such as those with volcanic activity and tectonic faults, in quantities that can be used for energy production. As a result, its implementation at a global level is limited.

In addition, high exploration and drilling costs Initial costs are a critical factor. Drilling to great depths is an extremely expensive process, and the exploration phase involves risks, as success in extracting efficient resources is not always guaranteed.

Another drawback is that, although electricity generation may be constant once the plant is in operation, its capacity to be used depends greatly on the geological conditions at the site. Variations in the availability of thermal resources can mean fluctuations in the efficiency of the plants.

It should also be noted that in some cases, improper use of facilities can lead to underground degradation, which could cause damage to aquifers or even trigger minor earthquakes known as induced earthquakes.

Therefore, there are still economic and technical barriers that must be overcome for geothermal energy to expand globally. However, these limitations are being addressed through technological advances and the implementation of risk mitigation systems.

With ongoing projects and continued advancement in new drilling and generation technologies, geothermal energy continues to position itself as one of the most sustainable and strategically viable solutions for the future of global energy.


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