Geothermal Power

According to Britannica, "form of energy conversion in which heat energy from within Earth is captured and harnessed for cooking, bathing, space heating, electrical power generation, and other uses. "

"... Normally, heat extraction requires a fluid (or steam) to bring the energy to the surface. Locating and developing geothermal resources can be challenging. This is especially true for the high-temperature resources needed for generating electricity. Such resources are typically limited to parts of the world characterized by recent volcanic activity or located along plate boundaries or within crustal hot spots. Even though there is a continuous source of heat within Earth, the extraction rate of the heated fluids and steam can exceed the replenishment rate, and, thus, use of the resource must be managed sustainably."

Types of Geothermal Energy Use

Electricity Production

"In 2015, the total annual utilization of geothermal energy as heat was 163, 273 GWh, which is only 28% of the total installed geothermal heating capacity world-widei. A large portion of the world’s geothermal energy remains untapped. While geothermal energy is most efficiently harnessed as heat, it would see much wider usage if converted to electricity. The first experimental geothermal power plant was developed in Larderello, Italy and successfully generated electricity in 1904, and by 1911, the geothermal field had started commercial production.

The success sparked the commercial harnessing of geothermal energy as electricity, but adoption of geothermal electricity has been slow. At the end of 2019, only 24 countries shared a total worldwide installed capacity of 15,406 MWe. The United States, Indonesia, The Philippines, Turkey and New Zealand have the highest installed capacities, with more than 1,000 MWe in installed capacity each." - https://www.erce.energy/latestnews/untapped-geothermal-energy/ 

Ground Sourced or Geothermal Heat Pump 

These are ideal for temperate climates, allowing for heating and cooling so long as there is a temperature difference between the source and the place being heated or cooled. These systems use around 1/4th of the energy needed to heat or cool with common furnaces or A/C units.

Click the High Efficiency Heat Pumps button to learn more about these pumps, then scroll down to find an installer near you, and find out if your government or other local groups offer grants, no-interest loans or other support to help lower your bills and ecological impact.

Natural Hot Springs

"Geothermal processes create heat and electricity that provide power and hot water to cities in Iceland, New Zealand, Italy and Northern California. As well as being used for energy sources, geothermal waters can also contain minerals and elements such as sulfur, gold, silver, and mercury that can be recovered and used." - U.S. National Park Service 

"Since Paleolithic times, geothermal energy has been used for bathing. People used natural hot springs for warmth and cleansing." Later the romans expanded their use of hotsping water from simply bathing in, to warming entire homes.

Grants & Funding

North America

USA