A popular power source, geothermal energy can make it easy for us to get what we need without burning fossil fuels in the process. Let us take a look at some of the most important pros and cons of this technology for our businesses and homes when it comes to powering them up.
List of Pros of Geothermal Power
1. It is renewable.
We can presume that geothermal energy is renewable, as its reservoirs are coming from natural resources that are naturally replenished. Simply put, it is a resource that can sustain its own consumption rate, unlike other energy sources, such as fossil fuels and coal. As scientists claimed, geothermal plants would figuratively last billions of years.
2. It is eco-friendly.
Though there is a few polluting aspects of producing geothermal energy, they are just minimal compared with those associated with conventional fuel sources. Its carbon footprint is minuscule, so further development of existing geothermal resources is seen as helpful in fighting global warming.
3. It is great for cooling and heating.
Water temperatures needed to effectively turn turbines and generate electricity is more than 150 degrees Celsius. However, we can still make it work by using the relatively small temperature difference between the ground source and the surface. In general, the ground is more resistant to seasonal temperature changes than air, so only a couple of meters below the surface can be effective as a heat sink with a pump. In fact, there was a tremendous growth in households that use geothermal cooling and heating over the years.
4. It is stable.
With geothermal energy, we can predict its power output with remarkable accuracy. On the other hand, this is not the case with solar and wind energy technologies. This means that geothermal energy is excellent for meeting the demand for base load energy.
List of Cons of Geothermal Power
1. It is expensive.
Geothermal power projects are expensive, with the drilling and exploration for new reservoirs coming with high prices. The upfront costs of geothermal heating and cooling systems are also steep. However, these systems could save us money down the road, therefore regarded as s long-term investment.
2. It still has environmental issues.
Did you know that greenhouse gases are abundant below the Earth’s surface and mitigate towards the surface and into the atmosphere? Well, these emissions are observed to be higher around geothermal power plants. Also, these facilities are associated with silica and sulfur dioxide and silica emissions and contain traces of toxic heavy metals, such as boron, arsenic and mercury.
3. It risks instability of surfaces.
Geothermal plant constructions can affect land stability, and in fact, they have led to subsidence. Hydraulic fracturing can trigger earthquakes, which had been intrinsic parts of enhanced geothermal system development.
4. It is specific with location.
It is difficult to come by good geothermal reservoirs. Fortunately, some countries, like the Philippines and Iceland, have been blessed with great resources, allowing them to meet over 30% their electricity demand. This means some regions do not have such benefit. Also, geothermal energy needs to be transported long distances by the means of hot water, which accounts for a significant energy loss.
Generally, geothermal energy is considered as sustainable, environmentally friendly and reliable. However, its influence on our energy systems in the future still depends on advancements, politics and energy prices. We will never know the situation in years or decades down the line. But with the pros and cons listed above, we can come up with a well-informed decision.