Renewable Energy and Resources

Geothermal Energy: Extraction and Application

Geothermal energy is a sustainable and constant source of power that harnesses the Earth’s internal heat for electricity generation and direct-use applications such as heating and cooling. This energy is extracted by tapping into geothermal reservoirs of hot water and steam located beneath the Earth’s surface, often through deep drilling techniques. In geothermal power plants, the extracted steam is used to drive turbines that generate electricity, while ground-source heat pumps are used in residential and commercial buildings to provide efficient heating and cooling by exchanging heat with shallow ground. Advances in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are expanding geothermal’s potential by enabling access to heat in dry, impermeable rock formations using engineered fluid pathways. Geothermal energy is known for its low emissions, high capacity factor, and ability to provide baseload power, making it a vital component of a diversified, clean energy portfolio.