The Geothermal Energy Edge!

Renewable energy sector includes geothermal technology, which takes advantage of the earth's constant temperature and has been in use for many years. My colleagues and I are investing in the Southeast where the temperature of the earth below the ground stays at fairly constant sixty-seven (67) degrees year round, with a change in temperature, or delta T, of only plus or minus five (5) degrees.  Some advantages of Geothemal Energy includes the potential harness the constant earth temperature of 60 to 70 degrees and transfer heat from a closed-loop making heat exchange much more efficient than with a conventional air-to-air heat exchange coil. Consider the difference between taking outside air of 22 degrees and heating it to 73 degrees to make your house comfortable, and taking the water in a closed loop installation that is 60 degrees and heating it to 73 degrees. The heating system uses much less input energy to produce an output temperature of 73 degrees. In most residential applications, closed-loop systems can provide heating and cooling and produce as much as 80% off the hot water needed for the average home or business.

In geologically suitable areas, geothermal energy is currently cost competitive with conventional generation methods.

Geothermal power plants do have high initial costs to drill and construct new facilities. But relatively high construction costs are paid back because there are no fuel costs.

As shown in this Department of Energy Geothermal Report geothermal power costs are currently competitive with coal power plants, making them among the cheapest power providers around and getting cheaper with every project.

But current cost figures are based on projects that are located at the best geothermal sites.

The key to economically exploiting geothermal resources using current technologies is finding the best producing hydrothermal wells.


The following books are extremely helpful in further explaining the advantages of the Geothermal energy;






























For more information on geothermal resources go to:
Department of Energy Geothermal Pages

Geothermal Education Office

Geothermal Resources Council

Wikipedia: Pros and Cons of Geothermal Energy