Immense potential and interesting characteristics
From heat to electricity
In the broad panorama of renewable energies, some lesser-known energy sources are starting to gain a certain space, a certain centrality, distinguishing themselves for their versatility and for the extent of their potential, which in some cases is truly immense. Everyone has happened to lay eyes on one of the numerous energy infrastructures connected with renewable sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines. These plants are now springing up in most urban contexts and are contributing pointedly to the energy mix for the production of electricity. However, the horizons of renewables do not end with solar and wind power: nowadays, other clean energy sources with great potential are silently imposing themselves on general attention, with a good chance of easily joining the forms of renewable energies already established.
Among the emerging sources, we must certainly mention geothermal energy, which consists of the valorization of the natural heat contained beneath the earth’s crust. This energy source, considered universally renewable, is mainly used to produce heat and electricity. Compared to other renewable energy sources, geothermal energy is said to be far more reliable and predictable since a geothermal plant at full capacity would be able to recover heat continuously, almost non-stop. Unlike the most well-known clean energy sources, such as wind and solar, geothermal energy involves a much less massive use of land. test
The actual functioning
But how exactly does the recovery and subsequent use of heat stored beneath the earth’s crust work? First of all, we need to explain the exact location of this very special raw material: the heat is found in very specific points, such as those where volcanoes, geysers, or hot springs are located. The reason why it is possible to find heat in the depths of the earth is very simple: by going deeper and deeper, the temperature of the soil increases with great steadiness, with increases of about 3 degrees centimeters for every 100 meters dug. And the waters that are found beneath the subsoil, once they come into contact with the rocks at high temperatures, are naturally transformed into heat.
Generally, the geothermal energy that accumulates underground reaches the surface through water and steam, which can be used to produce electricity. To complete this process in an optimal way, a geothermal power plant is usually built, which can basically be of three types. The first is the one linked to dry steam geothermal power plants, used to source steam from cracks in the ground and subsequently used to operate a turbine. Another type of geothermal power plant focuses on the sourcing of high-pressure water from underground, which then evaporates on the surface and is used to trigger the movement of turbines that will then produce electricity. In the third type of geothermal power plant, a particular fluid with a lower boiling point than water is used, which is then transformed into steam thanks to its proximity to boiling water. This time, too, the steam obtained in this way is used to operate a turbine. The steam generated through these processes is used to operate the turbine, which is activated thanks to the mechanical energy released during the journey. Subsequently, the mechanical energy is transformed into electricity thanks to a special alternator. The water obtained after cooling the steam, once the process is complete, is reintroduced into the subsoil.
