2007-02-12 01:30:58 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
Nothing wrong. Here in italy we have plants for geothermal
energy producion operating sinse almost 80 years in a small town, Larderello in Tuscany for the production of electricity
and boron salts.
Recent plants exist in Iceland and supply a lot of energy also for home heating.
For Jonnie : the plants built in Italy were built before the existence of stainless steel. And are sill working.
The problem are the initial costs and to find a suitable place, and
to fight with the stupidity of environmentalists.
2007-02-12 02:01:01 · answer #1 · answered by giorgio s 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Geothermal Energy, energy contained in intense heat that continually flows outward from deep within Earth. This heat originates primarily in the core. Some heat is generated in the crust, the planet’s outer layer, by the decay of radioactive elements that are in all rocks. The crust, which is about 5 to 75 km (about 3 to 47 mi) thick, insulates the surface from the hot interior, which at the core may reach temperatures from 4000° to 7000° C (7200° to 12,600° F). Where the heat is concentrated near the surface, it can be used as a source of energy.
2007-02-12 01:37:22 · answer #2 · answered by Vinu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A comprehensive new MIT-led study of the potential for geothermal energy within the United States has found that mining the huge amounts of heat that reside as stored thermal energy in the Earth's hard rock crust could supply a substantial portion of the electricity the United States will need in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact.
2007-02-12 01:40:08 · answer #3 · answered by pramodh k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the only main problem is the initial cost of installation but aside from that it's a great idea if you can afford it .
The initial cost of a geothermal heat pump system varies greatly according to local labor rates, lot geology and size, type of system installed, and equipment selected. So, GHP systems are more costly to install than air source heat pumps. For either system, the cost of installed ducts should be identical. Equipment costs can be 50-100% more expensive for a geothermal heat pump system when the circulating pump, indoor tubing, and water source heat pump are considered. This 50-100% premium translates to $1,000 - $2,000 for the equipment that supplies a 3-ton system.
The ground loop is generally the most expensive component of a geothermal heat pump system and is highly dependent on local labor rates and drilling conditions. An installed ground loop stubbed out in a home can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 per installed ton. Overall, one could expect to pay between $4,000 and $11,000 more for a 3-ton GHP system than for an air source heat pump system.
Operational Cost
Geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. This information, as well as, reports that have been made by builders who monitor their in-place systems indicate that heating and cooling savings can range between $358 and $1,475, annually.
2007-02-12 01:34:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you harness it? Say you want to harness the heat from the Earth's core, how do you take that thermal energy and transfer it into electircal potential?
2007-02-12 01:34:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Very expensive to install, all the piping should be a very good grade of stainless. the few that have been tried haven't been too good.
2007-02-12 02:31:22 · answer #6 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋