What's the deal with Geo-thermal energy........Is it viable as a major energy solution?

Question

I'm talking about creating big hot rock water conversion plants!

Answer 1

You can create huge structures to capture the heat of the earth or you can heat and cool each home individually with a Geo-thermal heat pump which only needs electricity to operate after it is installed. Combine the heat pump with solar-voltaic panels or wind generators and you have energy independence from OPEC and no carbon loading of the atmosphere.

Iceland uses the geothermal vents that abound in that country to heat much of the homes. We do not have the density of geothermal vents in USA to capture energy in the same way.

It would seem to me that the difference between heating/cooling a house and heating/cooling a business is the amount of water used to absorb the earth's consistent temperature and the depth the pipes are buried.

I believe that we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to geothermal.

Answer 2

Geothermal is more suited for personal home or business use. As a home or business system, paired with a heat exchanger, this can be a very efficient system saving alot of money over the life of the system.

The cost of a geothermal heating/cooling system is about 20% more than a typical central air and heat system, but you can generally expect a 60% decreas in your monthly utility bills. This makes it very viable for the average home owner.

Answer 3

It's very viable, but like everything else, it ain't free. There is a lot of energy available but it requires large capital investments to recover and it is not available generally, near the areas of highest demand. ....and.... it may not be as non-poluting as you might think. drilling all those wells, building the transmission systems and maintaining it all will require large expenditures of conventional fuels and will definitely alter the landscape.

Answer 4

It depends on the region of the world you live in. Short answer:globally no, not yet with the technology we have.