Geothermal energy

1. Past ,Present and Future

2.  Geothermal energy has been used in its most simple form of producing
hot water for centuries. Both humans and animals have used natural hot
springs for cleanliness and warmth.
1: Japanese Macaca’s enjoying a
Mountain hot spring.
The water in these hot springs is heated by volcanic activity deep in the
earth.

3.  The father of modern Geothermal energy , Piero
Ginori Conti was the director of a company
started by his grand father-in-law in the field of
boric acid extraction. Piero took his new company
in a different direction, with the first geothermal
generator .
 This generator was first run in 1904 in the Tuscan
village of Larderello Italy . How ever this was not
an entirely new concept.
 The use of geothermal heat to extract boric acid
was common place in the 1800’s.
 Geothermal energy as we know it, is an
adaptation of an old concept for a more modern
application.

4.  The first actual geothermal generator was developed by Piero Ginori Pirelli and was only
used to power a small hand full of period light bulbs but it was the start of all geothermal
energy as we know it.

5.  The graph shown represents the amount of geothermal energy produced in the first 100
years of its existence, in mega Watts of energy per year. A mega Watt is one million Watts.

6.  The first and most common type of geothermal energy generator was invented in New
Zealand and is called a flash steam power plant, it is the most common form of geothermal
plant because most sources of geothermal energy are hot water reservoir.

7.  The following video will show a much more in depth look at how a flash steam generator
works, and how conservation methods are used to ensure that geothermal reservoirs are
not depleted.

8.  The second and currently less common form of geothermal energy production is called a
Binary Cycle Power Plant, this form of generator uses geothermal energy to heat liquid in a
separate cycle through a heat sink This form of geothermal energy production uses cooler
reservoirs of water to produce electricity, allowing to build geothermal plants where it was
previously thought to be impractical.

9. Although there have been many advances in the technology used to produce geothermal
energy, it is still hampered by several limitations.
 The first limitation would be that, the super heated liquid used to create geothermal
energy can be transported generally no more than 2 miles or 3.2 kilometers.
 The second limitation of geothermal energy is caused by the first limitation and the fact
that most geothermal reservoirs are located in rural areas, this means that it is very difficult
to get the energy produced on to the power grid because most power lines that are
currently in use are near capacity, meaning that to introduce more electricity more power
lines must be constructed or upgraded. Upgrading power transmission lines is costly.
 Most limitations of geothermal energy production relate more to infrastructure
shortcomings rather than actual stumbling blocks in the technological aspects of the
industry.

10.  Geothermal pros and cons : history of geothermal energy. (2013, March 6). Retrieved from
http://geothermalprosandcons.net/history-of-geothermal-energy/
 Gron KJ. 2007 April 26. Primate Factsheets: Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology .
<http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/japanese_macaque>. Accessed 2013 March
6.
 Pietro , B. (2008, September 19). History of rotary in Italy . Retrieved from
http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/global/regions/italy_details.htm
 Marilyn, N. (2013, March 6). Introduction to geothermal energy. Retrieved from
http://geothermal.marin.org/geopresentation/sld050.htm
 John, L. (2013, March 6). 100 years of geothermal power production. Retrieved from
http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull25-3/art2.pdf
 A history of geothermal energy in the united states. (2013, February 12). Retrieved from
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/history.html
 Geothermal energy: Technologies and costs. (2003, June 5). Retrieved from
http://www.geocollaborative.org/publications/Geothermal_Energy_Technologies_and_Cos
ts.pdf
 Geothermal electric power plant [Web]. (2010). Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl-oxDZDfqI