Geothermal energy
In the core of the earth the temperature is around 4200 degrees. By drilling down into the earth’s crust, it is possible to tap into the heat and use it for energy purposes. This is geothermal energy, a renewable energy source which has been exploited since the time of the Romans for heating and baths. It is now a form of energy that is produced in about 25 countries, and is particularly advanced in the US, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Kenya, the Philippines and Iceland.
In Unterhaching in Southern Germany, a geothermal power station was recently opened which will reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by two-thirds. Germany already has several such power stations in operation, but this one uses a new technology, called the Kalina system, which can also be used in the rest of the world to make the energy extraction from geothermal power stations more efficient.
Geothermal energy is relatively inexpensive, reliable and environmentally-friendly, but so far has been restricted to areas where tectonic plates meet. Newer technology has widened the scope considerably and in particular has enabled heat extraction for domestic heating. One of the advantages of geothermal energy is that it is constantly available, as opposed to solar and wind power. Geothermal wells release some greenhouse gases from within the earth, but these emissions are lower per unit of energy than from conventional fossil fuels.
Read more:
www.fornybar.no/sitepageview.aspx?sitePageID=1053
www.geothermieprojekte.de/?set_language=en&cl=en
www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/heating/
www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,557125,00.html
www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4297903,00.html