Geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource because

Is geothermal energy a renewable resource?

Geothermal energy is heat that is generated within Earth. It is a renewable resource that can be harvested for human use. Loading ... Geothermal energy is heat that is generated within Earth. (Geo means “earth,” and thermal means “heat” in Greek.) It is a renewable resource that can be harvested for human use.

What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is heat within the earth. The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth. People use geothermal heat for bathing, for heating buildings, and for generating electricity.

What makes geothermal a good source of energy?

Several attributes make geothermal a beneficial source of energy, including: It's clean, offering energy that can be extracted without burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, or oil. Using geothermal for electricity produces only about one-sixth of the carbon dioxide of a natural gas power plant, and little—if any—nitrous oxide or sulfur dioxide.

Are geothermal power plants a good investment?

Geothermal power plants have a high-capacity factor—typically 90% or higher—meaning that they can operate at maximum capacity nearly all the time. These factors mean that geothermal can balance intermittent sources of energy like wind and solar, making it a critical part of the national renewable energy mix.

Can geothermal energy be used to generate electricity?

Depending upon the temperature and the fluid (steam) flow, geothermal energy can also be used to generate electricity. Geothermal power plants control the behavior of steam and use it to drive electrical generators. Some “dry steam” geothermal power plants simply collect rising steam from the ground and funnel it directly into a turbine.

Why do we need geothermal power plants?

They can also ramp generation up or down to respond to changes in electricity demand. Domestic —U.S. geothermal resources can be harnessed for power production and heating and cooling without importing fuel. Small footprint —Geothermal power plants and geothermal heat pumps are compact.