Geothermal energy is among the most advantageously viable renewable and widely available sources. It even excels in some aspects over certain other conventional energy sources. For example, the UK is planning a power connector with Iceland to bring renewable energy to as many as 1.6 million homes; a commercial geothermal plant is planned in Cornwall.
Thus, Iceland is known for its green energy resources, utilising wind, hydro, and mainly geothermal energy to reach 100% sustainable electricity. Interestingly, ground-source heat pumps are dramatically cutting energy bills for homes worldwide.
Geothermal Energy Advantages
Geothermal energy is a reliable and eco-friendly alternative, providing numerous alternatives. Let’s discuss them in detail.
1. Environmental Benefits
Geothermal energy is harnessed from the earth; therefore, fossil fuels are not burned, releasing poisonous emissions or residues into the air. This green attribute offers maximum potential savings of up to 80 percent over the use of energy in traditional ways.
2. Reliability
Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy doesn’t suffer intermittently and can be accessed throughout the year. This high availability factor implies that the elements do not interfere with it. Hence, it is a reliable source, unlike other renewables.
3. High Efficiency
Geothermal heat pump systems use between 25% and 50% less electricity than conventional systems for heating or cooling. Due to their flexible design, they are also designed to be space-efficient.
4. Low Maintenance
Geothermal systems have a long life because they have very few movable parts. Heat pump pipes are warranted for 25—to 50-year lengths, and the pump is good for at least 20 years.
Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
Here are some of the disadvantages of geothermal energy:
1. Environmental Impact
Geothermal energy extraction can release greenhouse gases, including hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and methane, contradicting its nature as an environmentally friendly power source. While these emissions are significantly lower compared to fossil fuels, they still matter relatively on a large scale.
2. Possible Depletion
Although geothermal energy is renewable, specific sites are subject to cooling, which means that they can no longer be used to produce energy after some time. Sourcing directly from magma is non-depletable, but the technology for such processes still needs to be developed.
3. High Initial Costs
However, despite having high upfront installation costs, geothermal systems pay back in 2 to 10 years, making them highly economical in the longer term.
4. Land Requirements
While rural land is usually sufficient, even in urbanised areas, the demand for land by a homeowner may be challenging. Still, space for vertical ground source heat pumps can take up minimal land.
Conclusion
Geothermal energy is highly promising because of its advantages: many environmental benefits compared with conventional energy sources, reliability, and efficiency. However, this comes with many challenges: environmental impacts, possible depletion, extremely high initial costs, and land use requirements.
Advancing technology and increasing government incentives can make geothermal energy a more feasible and commercially attractive proposition to a broad base of users.
