What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is heat from deep beneath the surface of the Earth, which can be harnessed to generate clean renewable electricity.

How does geothermal energy work?

Geothermal energy works by using heat from the Earth's crust to warm water that seeps into underground reservoirs, which can then be turned into steam or hot water.

What are the types of geothermal power plants?

There are three main types: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle power plants.

What are the environmental benefits of geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy has low emissions, a small physical footprint, and minimal environmental impact.

How much energy could untapped geothermal resources supply in the U.S.?

Untapped geothermal resources in the U.S. could potentially supply the equivalent of 10% of today’s energy needs.

Can geothermal energy help recycle wastewater?

Yes, geothermal energy can help recycle wastewater, as seen in Santa Rosa, California.

What is the current percentage of electricity generated by geothermal energy in Northern California?

Geothermal energy currently provides about 60% of the electricity along the Northern California coast.

Energy 101: Geothermal Energy

00:03:48

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRDf7QxjDk

Zusammenfassung

TLDRGeothermal energy is derived from the Earth's heat and can be harnessed to generate clean, renewable electricity. This process involves underground reservoirs of hot water that, when heated sufficiently, can turn into steam or hot water and emerge at the surface. Various geothermal power plant technologies exist, including dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle plants, each utilizing different methods to convert thermal energy into electricity. The environmental benefits include low emissions and minimal ecological footprint. Untapped geothermal resources could meet up to 10% of the U.S. energy needs, with existing systems contributing significantly to the energy grid, particularly in California.

Mitbringsel

🌍 Geothermal energy comes from the Earth's heat.
💧 Hot water from underground reservoirs produces steam.
🔋 Dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle plants generate electricity.
🌱 It has low emissions and minimal environmental impact.
♻️ Geothermal can recycle wastewater to produce energy.
🇺🇸 Untapped geothermal resources could supply about 10% of U.S. energy needs.
💡 Geothermal energy contributes 60% of Northern California's electricity.

Zeitleiste

00:00:00 - 00:03:48
The video discusses geothermal energy, which originates from deep within the Earth and can be used to generate clean, renewable electricity. It explains how heat from the Earth's crust warms underground reservoirs of water, leading to steam or hot water surfacing, predominantly where tectonic plates meet. As geothermal technologies improve, more renewable energy sources can be harnessed, with various methods like dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle power plants described. The environmental benefits of geothermal energy include low emissions and minimal impact, and it can also recycle wastewater and generate valuable byproducts. Geothermal resources in the U.S. could meet 10% of current energy needs and already supply a significant portion of electricity in northern California, contributing to energy independence and sustainable energy solutions.

Mind Map

Video-Fragen und Antworten

What is geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is heat from deep beneath the surface of the Earth, which can be harnessed to generate clean renewable electricity.
How does geothermal energy work?
Geothermal energy works by using heat from the Earth's crust to warm water that seeps into underground reservoirs, which can then be turned into steam or hot water.
What are the types of geothermal power plants?
There are three main types: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle power plants.
What are the environmental benefits of geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy has low emissions, a small physical footprint, and minimal environmental impact.
How much energy could untapped geothermal resources supply in the U.S.?
Untapped geothermal resources in the U.S. could potentially supply the equivalent of 10% of today’s energy needs.
Can geothermal energy help recycle wastewater?
Yes, geothermal energy can help recycle wastewater, as seen in Santa Rosa, California.
What is the current percentage of electricity generated by geothermal energy in Northern California?
Geothermal energy currently provides about 60% of the electricity along the Northern California coast.

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Untertitel

Automatisches Blättern:

00:00:07
YOU MAY HAVE RELAXED IN A NATURAL HOT SPRINGS POOL.
00:00:11
OR SEEN THE OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER BLASTING HOT WATER INTO THE AIR IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. BUT HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF WHERE ALL THAT HEAT COMES FROM?
00:00:20
WELL, IT COMES FROM DEEP BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH -- AND IT'S CALLED GEOTHERMAL ENERGY...
00:00:26
AND WE CAN USE IT TO GENERATE CLEAN RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY. OK, HERE'S HOW GEOTHERMAL WORKS.
00:00:39
HEAT FROM THE EARTH'S CRUST WARMS WATER THAT HAS SEEPED INTO UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS. WHEN WATER BECOMES HOT ENOUGH IT CAN BREAK THROUGH THE EARTH'S SURFACE AS STEAM OR HOT WATER. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHERE THE EARTH'S CRUST OR 'PLATES' MEET AND SHIFT.
00:00:56
IN THE PAST, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WAS LIMITED TO AREAS WHERE HOT WATER FLOWED NEAR THE SURFACE. BUT, AS GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES ADVANCE, WE CAN LEVERAGE EVEN MORE OF THESE NATURAL RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. ENGINEERS HAVE DEVELOPED A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRODUCE POWER FROM GEOTHERMAL WELLS DRILLED INTO THE GROUND.
00:01:22
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS. IT'S A DRY STEAM GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT AND IT'S THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY USED TODAY... UNDERGROUND STEAM FLOWS DIRECTLY TO A TURBINE TO DRIVE A GENERATOR THAT PRODUCES ELECTRICITY. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
00:01:38
ANOTHER GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY IS CALLED A FLASH STEAM POWER PLANT. A PUMP PUSHES HOT FLUID INTO A TANK AT THE SURFACE, WHERE IT COOLS. AS IT COOLS THE FLUID QUICKLY TURNS INTO VAPOR-- OR "FLASH" VAPORIZES. THE VAPOR THEN DRIVES A TURBINE -- AND POWERS A GENERATOR.
00:01:57
A BINARY CYCLE PLANT WORKS DIFFERENTLY.
00:02:01
IT USES TWO TYPES OF FLUID. HOT FLUID FROM UNDERGROUND HEATS A SECOND FLUID, CALLED A HEAT TRANSFER FLUID, IN A GIANT HEAT EXCHANGER. THE SECOND FLUID HAS A MUCH LOWER BOILING POINT THAN THE FIRST FLUID AND SO IT 'FLASHES' INTO VAPOR AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE. WHEN THE SECOND FLUID FLASHES... IT SPINS A TURBINE THAT DRIVES A GENERATOR.
00:02:28
THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF THIS CLEAN, ROUND-THE-CLOCK RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE ARE SUBSTANTIAL: LOW EMISSIONS, SMALL PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT, AND MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THE FEW BYPRODUCTS THAT CAN COME UP ARE OFTEN RE-INJECTED UNDERGROUND.
00:02:44
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CAN ALSO HELP RECYCLE WASTEWATER. IN CALIFORNIA, WASTEWATER FROM THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA IS INJECTED INTO THE GROUND TO GENERATE MORE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.
00:02:56
SOME PLANTS DO PRODUCE SOLID WASTE, BUT THAT SOLID WASTE MAY CONTAIN MINERALS THAT WE CAN REMOVE AND SELL... WHICH LOWERS THE COST OF THIS ENERGY SOURCE.
00:03:06
THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ESTIMATES THAT UNTAPPED GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES, IF DEVELOPED, COULD SUPPLY THE EQUIVALENT OF 10% OF TODAY'S ENERGY NEEDS. IN FACT, ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY GEOTHERMAL ENERGY ALREADY PROVIDES ABOUT 60% OF THE POWER ALONG THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST...
00:03:28
FROM THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TO THE OREGON STATE LINE.
00:03:31
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY... ...HELPING TO PUSH AMERICA TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, AND A CLEAN, RENEWABLE WAY TO MEET OUR GROWING ENERGY DEMANDS...