All Flashcards
What are the steps in geothermal electricity generation?
Deep well → Hot water/steam → Turbine → Electricity → Cooling → Back to Earth.
Outline the process of accessing geothermal energy.
Drill wells, pump hot water/steam to surface under pressure.
How is electricity generated from geothermal sources?
Steam spins a turbine connected to a generator.
What happens to the steam after it spins the turbine?
Cooled, condensed into water, pumped back into Earth.
What is geothermal energy?
Renewable energy from Earth's internal heat.
Define geothermal power plant.
Facility using underground hot water/steam to generate electricity.
Define geothermal heat pump.
System using stable Earth temperature to heat/cool buildings.
What is a renewable resource?
A resource that can be replenished naturally over time.
What is a closed-loop system (in geothermal context)?
Cooled water is pumped back into the Earth after use.
Why is geothermal energy considered renewable?
Earth continuously produces internal heat.
How do geothermal power plants access heat?
Wells drilled to underground hot water/steam reservoirs.
What drives the turbine in a geothermal plant?
Steam from heated water spins the turbine.
What heats the water in geothermal reservoirs?
Earth's core heat, radioactive decay, residual heat.
What is the environmental benefit of geothermal energy?
Reduced reliance on fossil fuels, low emissions during operation.
What are the limitations of geothermal energy?
Expensive to build, location limitations, releases some GHGs.