Can geo-thermal energy solve the impending energy crisis?

Question

Cn geo-thermal energy solve the power crisis problem in the developing countries such as India?Can it be employed everywhere or only in regions where earth is thermally more active?There is no dearth of thermal energy underground and if properly used,can prove to be a good alternative to non-conventional sources of energy.Your comments.

Answer 1

It can be a part of the solution, but not the whole thing.

The world uses an enormous amount of oil. That's a very big problem. As it gets more expensive, we'll need other energy sources, a lot of them. No one thing can replace oil.

The very big problem needs a very big solution. We'll need nuclear, wind solar, geothermal, biofuels, etc. None of them can do the job alone. We'll need everything we can get.

Perhaps most of all, we'll need to conserve energy.

Geothermal is available some places as a lot of high temperature stuff that can drive big power plants. Iceland, New Zealand, and the US are examples. But most places can use small geothermal units to help heat and cool individual houses. It's a little expensive now, but will become more popular.

Answer 2

I just installed geo-thermal heating system in my home in Ireland. We calculate the pay-back period at approximately 8 years.

Whilst this might sounds a long time, I predict that it will now be even faster, because of the impending increases in electricity costs.

If more people embraced this type of solution, it would go a long way to solving the problems. However, it is not a panacea. Geo-thermal will work in any climate and any region , but we also have to look at solar, wind, and other renewable sources.

The technology is expensive in developed countries. However, if it were introduced at grass-roots level in developing countries, the infrastructure could be put in place at a community level, rather than each individual absorbing the full cost.

Answer 3

currently, geo-thermal technologies are not cost effective in most places

meaning it costs more to get energy that way than by buying expensive oil

although there is no dearth of thermal energy underground, you have to get the energy above ground for it to be useful

with current technology, the cost of harnessing that energy is just too high to make it practical in most places

in places where good geothermal sources are closer to the surface (like iceland) there is significant geothermal power generation in operation

Answer 4

It will never happen to the degree that it needs too.

Oil interests and car manufacturers will see to that.

I think that it would be of great use to developing nations

if the technology is affordable to them.

The real problem is that existing power source infrastructures are not

equipped financially to handle the massive retrofitting that would be required to utilize the geothermal energy.The switch would cost $$.

I went and looked at the Soviet Verana 13 & 14

photographs of Venus last night.It is sobering to think

that possibly the same thing could happen to Earth's atmosphere.

Whatever one's point of view,We will have to find an
alternative.The planet will perish if we don't.

Answer 5

It really depends on your geographic location. In Iceland, they produce 80-85% of their energy geothermally. They are also on a major oceanic spreading ridge known as the Reykhanes Ridge. It's easy and economical for the people of Iceland to produce such energy.

As far as people in non-spreading regions where thermal energy is difficult to obtain....well, they're outta' luck

Answer 6

It would if people had a drive to further develop GT energy usage. I'd have to be made cheaper, & be installed when constructing a house or building. Think about this... If we developed a matter replicater(I know, how Star Treck is this answer), that could proudce any element from energy, energy would be all we'd need. GT power, with a roof of solar panels & a few windmills to boot, that would be living.

Answer 7

We need technology to convert geo-thermal energy into electric energy. Existing technology has very less efficiency.

Answer 8

Yes, it will help partially. We have geo-thermal plant here in the Philippines which contribute to 35% of our power requirements

Answer 9

If it was economically viable, we'd be doing it. They certainly make a lot of use of it in places like Iceland, but you may find the active layer is too deep to get down to in other places. Possibly one for the future as non-renewables become ever more expensive.

Answer 10

The energy crisis can be solved only if we reduce the consumption of energy and not trying to create newer forms of energy.