Geothermal energy is energy that is made from inside the core of the Earth. Since the core of the Earth is extremely hot, the heat can be used to make power.
When the core of the Earth gets really hot, it can cause a geyser and volcano to erupt. This type of geothermal energy can then be used as heat and energy.
The word geo means Earth and thermal means heat, so together geothermal means heat from the earth.
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the Earth is always being heated up. This type of energy can never be used up. Geothermal energy is sustainable because very little heat from the Earth is used to make this kind of energy compared to all of the heat that is found on the Earth.
Geothermal energy is good because it is renewable and because it is very clean. Clean energy means that it does not produce a lot of pollution and it is safer for the environment.
There are three ways that we can get geothermal energy, and these include by generating electricity, geothermal heat pumps and direct use.
Geothermal energy can be used in different power plants to help to make electricity. With the hot water that is deep in the Earth, the power plant can use this to make steam. The steam then uses a pressure that will go to the generator and this causes electricity.
Geothermal heat pumps are found below the surface of the Earth. In this area of the Earth, it is more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year around.
The geothermal heat pumps use this heat by running water through this area and it causes it to be heated all year long. So in the winter time, the water will still be heated because this area is always warm. This type of heat can be used as warm or as cool and can heat or cool homes.
Another way that geothermal heat can be used is by taking the heat directly from the Earth. This can be taken from geysers or from hot springs. The water can be then ran throughout homes and buildings and they can stay heated all year.
The problem with geothermal energy is that it can cost a lot of money to build ways to use this heat. Power plants can be expensive to build and to use.
Another problem is that power plants can cause there to be gasses that are released when they enter into the surface of the Earth.