5. Geothermal
There is less data on geothermal energy because it is used for much less. It is responsible for a very small amount of energy (in comparison to the others, though there are no small players in the renewable energy game).
Geothermal energy is created through water flowing through the ground and creating heat, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Wells are dug 1-2 miles into the earth, and hot water is pumped to the surface under high pressure.
When it gets close to the surface, the pressure is dropped, and it turns into steam, which pushes turbines that power generators. After the steam goes through the turbine, it is stored and cooled so that it turns back into water. It is then drained back into the earth to start the process over.
The movement creates 1.4% of renewable energy, and it produces an incredibly low carbon footprint. Though its production is relatively low, it is still renewable energy that we wouldn’t have otherwise. From its energy, 1/3 of it goes to electricity, and 2/3 goes to direct heat, so it doesn’t impact the electricity grid or the way we power our homes and lives near as much as water, wind, or solar power.
San Francisco holds the world’s biggest geothermal power plant at The Geysers Geothermal Complex with 900 megawatts of capacity. Thanks to this plant, the US is one of the top 5 producers of geothermal energy along with the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and Italy.
Geothermal energy is continuing to grow as an industry, just like the other resources, and we will continue to learn more about it as research develops.
- The industry could grow to 60 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2050, putting its output to 8% of renewable energy.
- Some models show the potential for more than 17,000 direct-heating and cooling for 28 million households using geothermal heat pumps by 2050.
Utilizing our renewable resources and minimizing our fossil fuel usage is a necessary part of keeping the planet safe and clean.
We only have one planet, and it is up to us to take care of it, so we need to understand these potential resources in order to maximize their abilities and productions while minimizing our negative affect on the earth. These five sources are essential, giving us the power to change the world and protect the earth we have while also giving us the ability to be energy independent in the United States and all over the world.
Blue Raven Solar is proud to help people change the world through solar energy and we are excited to see how the world can continue to change through the growth of the renewable energy industry.
We would love to help you become part of the change.