Then we have the problem with hydrocarbons causing a lot of pollution and being the premier source of climate change. Saudi Arabia on the other hand uses it to support things that should never have been supported (let us leave the politics at that), and will have almost nothing as the oil run out. Norway when it found oil was almost dirt poor, but it has collected its oil income into a massive oil fund to safeguard the future. These are finite sources that will dwindle returning these countries back into poverty unless the monetary gain has been reinvested wisely. So far these energy revolutions have been based on hydrocarbons like oil or coal. Readily available energy sources have transformed many developing countries into prospering countries, or even super rich countries like Saudi Arabia. Geothermal energy and the developing countriesĮnergy is the most powerful and essential commodity known to mankind. The Icelanders have done it for decades and are by far technology leaders in the field, and have done this by drilling into active volcanic systems without causing any dangerous accidents. Due to the numerous hydrothermal and geothermal power plants on this island nation it is self sufficient on energy without any hydrocarbon sources, and it has the lowest electricity price on the planet not caused by state subsidies. The bright and shining star of geothermal energy is Iceland. Japan is good at using the potential for geothermal plants, but could also increase the harvest several times around. Campi Flegrei and Vesuvius would be good options to increase the energy harvest out of. Italy does it, but they could do a lot more of it. Instead there are other much better places to do it at. It is though not advisable, not because of any dangers, instead it would be a stupid idea since it would destroy the cultural and geological idea of the national park. Fracking the living daylights out of Yellowstone could create enough electricity to drive half of the US. Otherwise you will not have the necessary water to inject into the wells that you have drilled.Īmong the industrialized countries the US has a little bit of Geothermal Power Plants, but could really do a lot more of it. This has been done for hundreds, if not thousands of years.īut if you wish to build a larger geothermal power plant you need ready access to clean water in large amounts. The simplest way to harvest free geothermal energy is to diverge a hotspring to heat houses, or to cap a fumarole to catch the steam for heating. This is often, but not always, evident as hotsprings or fumaroles happily steaming. To build a geothermal power plant you need two things, one is a dormant or active volcanic system that has places where there is readily available hot areas close to the surface. Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland. I will go through the benefits, the dangers involved, the technology itself and finish with the place I find to be the most suitable to construct large scale geothermal power plants in. One thing is for sure, I will strive to give the issue as unbiased representation as possible. And, for me there is no better way to come to grips with things than to write it down.ĭisclaimer: I am generally in favor of geothermal energy and I have a vested interest in its future, you be the judge if I represent things correctly. This made me start to pick over what I know to decide if it is a good idea, and if it is something I would like to become involved in again. What I learnt during that time has made me dither on if geothermal energy production is a good idea or not.Ī short while ago I got my interest back in geothermal energy and I now have the option of becoming involved in such a project again. That project was later scrapped for various reasons. Some years ago I had the honor of leading an evaluation project for such a plant. Or in other terms, your garden variety geothermal plant, such as those Iceland is filled with. What I am really talking about is drilling into a volcanic system to inject water so that you get steam to drive a power plant. I used the term “fracking” to provoke reactions out of anyone who read this article. The manmade lake resort is heated by cooling water that is discharged. In the behind of the tourist paradise of Bláa Lonid you can see a large Geothermal Power Plant.
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