Why is geothermal energy not environmentally friendly?
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Introduction
Geothermal power is a renewable source of energy that comes from heat in the ground. That might sound like an awesome way for us to generate electricity, but it’s not as simple as it seems. Geothermal energy isn’t environmentally friendly—and some people think it never will be. In this article, I’ll explain why geothermal energy isn’t environmentally friendly, and how we can make improvements so that one day it will be considered green.
As with most types of energy, geothermal power has an environmental impact.
The main environmental impact of geothermal energy is its use of natural resources. Geothermal power plants require water, which can be taken from lakes or rivers and used as coolant in their turbines. This can affect the local ecosystem by decreasing the amount of water available to wildlife, as well as increasing pollution levels in those bodies of water.
Geothermal power plants also release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during operation–in fact, they’re one of the largest contributors to climate change! However, emissions from geothermal plants are lower than those produced by fossil fuel-burning facilities like coal-fired power stations or oil refineries because they don’t burn any fuels themselves (although some do burn fossil fuels).
The resources used to generate geothermal power come from limited sources.
The resources used to generate geothermal power come from limited sources.
Geothermal power is generated by drilling deep into the earth and pumping in water at high pressure, which causes steam to rise up through a well bore. The steam is used as fuel for turbines that produce electricity, but this process requires significant amounts of water and energy–and both are finite resources. The earth’s crust is made up of silica and other minerals that take millions of years to form, which means they’re not renewable resources (although they can be recycled).
Geothermal power plants release greenhouse gases.
The main process that releases greenhouse gases is the drilling and extraction. When heat is extracted from deep within the earth, it’s pumped up through pipes to a power plant where electricity is generated. This requires energy and therefore creates greenhouse gases in the process of doing so.
Geothermal plants also release some carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during their normal operation–but not as much as other sources of electricity generation like coal or natural gas do.
There’s not a lot of regulation in the industry.
Geothermal power is regulated by the EPA and other federal agencies, but it’s not as strictly regulated as other forms of renewable energy. There are no federal laws governing geothermal power, and only some states have their own regulations on geothermal power.
Some companies are working towards more regulation in an effort to make sure that all companies follow the same guidelines when it comes to protecting the environment and being environmentally friendly.
It takes a lot of energy to set up a geothermal power plant.
It’s important to note that the energy required to set up a geothermal power plant is much higher than the energy required to run it. This means that, on average, geothermal power plants require more greenhouse gas emissions than other types of renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar).
There are many reasons that geothermal energy is not environmentally friendly.
There are many reasons that geothermal energy is not environmentally friendly. Geothermal power plants release greenhouse gases into the air, which contribute to global warming and climate change. The extraction of resources used in geothermal power plants can also be harmful to the environment. In addition, geothermal plants are not very efficient at producing electricity compared with other types of alternative energy sources such as solar or wind power.
Conclusion
Geothermal energy is a great way to generate power and heat your home, but it’s not perfect. As with any type of energy production, there are environmental impacts that need to be considered. Hopefully this article has helped you understand what they are and how they can be minimized through better regulation or technological advancements in geothermal drilling techniques.
