Bibliography

"Geothermal Energy." RE News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy>.

"How Geothermal Energy Works." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., 16 Dec. 2009. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-geothermal-energy-works.html>.

"Benefits of Geothermal Energy." National Geothermal Collaborative, n.d. Web.

http://www.geocollaborative.org/publications/Benefits_of_Geothermal_Energy.pdf

"Geothermal Energy Advantages And Disadvantages." Energy for Mankindorg RSS. N.p., 2011. Web. 19 Jan. 2013.

http://www.energyformankind.org/geothermal-energy/geothermal-energy-advantages-and-disadvantages/

D. Swain. Disadvantages on Geothermal Energy. 28 de Jun de 2007. <http://voices.yahoo.com/five-disadvantages-geothermal-energy-407841.html?cat=15>.

"Ring of Fire Map - Major World Volcanoes, Active World Volcanos Map - World Atlas."Ring of FireMap - Major World Volcanoes, Active World Volcanos Map - World Atlas. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2013.

The Pacific Ring of Fire.

Is the large series of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean. It coincides with the edges of the Pacific plate, one of the world's main tectonic plates. The Ring of Fire is composed over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. Much of the geothermal energy activity occurs in the Ring of Fire. 

Major volcanoes in the Ring of Fire:

Paricutin Volcano, Mexico

Mount Saint Helens, Washington, USA

Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

Mt. Fuji, Japan

Locations suitable for geothermal energy extraction.

Many of the best locations for geothermal energy power plants are found in "The Pacific Ring of Fire." The current countries that are producing electricity from geothermal reservoirs are the following:

• United States
• New Zealand
• Italy
• Mexico
• The Philippines
• Indonesia
• Japan

Characteristics of a city for the installation of a power plant.

Power plant in New Zealand

1. Soil with good heat transfer properties.
2. Sufficient land.
3. Digging permits.                               

      

  

How geothermal energy works?

Extraction

• Geothermal springs for power plants. The most common way of capturing the energy from geothermal sources is to tap into naturally occurring "hydrothermal convection" systems where cooler water gets into Earth's crust then is heated up, and then comes to the surface.

• Ground-source heat pumps. Another way to tap geothermal energy is by using geothermal heat pumps to provide heat and cooling to buildings.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages	Disadvantages
Low running cost. It saves  about 80% of the fossil fuel cost. Renewable and does not get depleted It doesn't harm the environment It helps in decreasing the country’s dependence on fossil fuel. Improves economic opportunities in rural areas.	High initial installation cost. Viable areas for construction are only few. The risk of releasing harmful gases trapped beneath the earth’s surface. Not easily transported. The locations may temporarily run out of steam (the power plant won't generate energy for months.)

What is it?

Geothermal energy  is the energy we get from the heat from the Earth. It is known as an alternative energy source because it is clean and sustainable. Below the Earth's core (4,000 miles under the Earth's surface), there is a layer of hot and molten rock called magma. Heat is produced there, mostly from the decay of naturally radioactive materials such as uranium and potassium. 

Technologies have been developed to take advantage of geothermal energy:

• Geothermal Electricity Production- Making electricity out of the earth's heat.

• Geothermal Direct Use- Producing heat directly from hot water within the earth

      • Geothermal Heat Pumps- Using the shallow ground to heat and cool buildings.