Feature Reports
Summary Geothermal Energy, the Earth’s Heat
Extreme temperatures deep within the Earth heat the rocks of the crust, along with the water and steam they contain. Geothermal energy refers to our use of this energy source, recovered to heat buildings or produce electricity.
Close-up
As you descend deeper into the Earth's crust, underground rock and water become hotter. This heatIn the field of statistical thermodynamics today, heat refers to the transfer of the thermal agitation of the particles making up matter... can be recovered using different geothermalDescribes the technology used to tap subsurface heat to produce energy... technologies depending on the temperature. But the heat resources in geothermal reservoirs are not inexhaustible.
Low-temperature geothermalDescribes the technology used to tap subsurface heat to produce energy... energy is used to supply heating for homes, apartment and office buildings, public facilities and farms. Medium- and high-temperature geothermal energy, above 90°C, is used to generate powerIn physics, power is the amount of energy supplied by a system per unit time. In simpler terms, power can be viewed as energy output...
Very low-temperature geothermalDescribes the technology used to tap subsurface heat to produce energy... energy is tapped by small installations for a specific area or individual home. For this, heatIn the field of statistical thermodynamics today, heat refers to the transfer of the thermal agitation of the particles making up matter... pumps and buried pipes (“loops”) or boreholes are used.
Medium and high-temperature geothermalDescribes the technology used to tap subsurface heat to produce energy... energy harnesses extremely hot water and steam from beneath the Earth to generate electricityForm of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles (electrons) through a conductor... in dedicated powerIn physics, power is the amount of energy supplied by a system per unit time. In simpler terms, power can be viewed as energy output... plants.
