Geothermal energy taps into Earth's internal heat to generate power and provide heating. This offers a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, harnessing heat from underground reservoirs formed by water seeping into hot rock layers.
Geothermal systems vary in temperature and type, from high-temperature electricity generation to low-temperature direct heating applications. Exploration, drilling, and energy conversion technologies are key to harnessing this source effectively.
Geothermal energy basics
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from within the Earth's crust to generate electricity or provide direct heating
Geothermal resources are renewable and sustainable, as heat is continuously generated by radioactive decay and residual heat from Earth's formation
Geothermal energy has a low carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels and can provide baseload power
Formation of geothermal reservoirs
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International cooperation and technology transfer promote global geothermal growth
Barriers to development
High upfront costs and financial risks associated with exploration and drilling
Limited geothermal resources in some regions and difficulty in identifying viable sites
Lack of awareness and understanding of geothermal energy among policymakers and the public
Regulatory and permitting challenges, particularly for cross-border projects
Global geothermal resources
Geothermal resources are distributed across the world, with the highest potential in regions with active tectonic and volcanic activity
Geothermal energy is being harnessed in over 20 countries, with significant untapped potential in many regions
Technological advancements and increased investment are driving the growth of the global geothermal industry
Leading geothermal countries
United States: the world's largest geothermal electricity producer, with a capacity of over 3.7 GW
Indonesia: the second-largest producer, with a geothermal capacity of over 2.1 GW
Philippines: the third-largest producer, with a geothermal capacity of over 1.9 GW
Other notable countries include Turkey, New Zealand, Mexico, Italy, and Iceland
Untapped geothermal potential
East African Rift System: a promising region with high geothermal potential, particularly in Kenya and Ethiopia
South America: significant untapped resources in countries like Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia
Southeast Asia: vast geothermal potential in countries like Indonesia, Philippines, and Japan
Europe: untapped resources in countries like Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia
Future growth projections
Global geothermal capacity is expected to reach 18.4 GW by 2030, a significant increase from the current 15.4 GW
The geothermal heat pump market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2020 to 2027
Increased adoption of geothermal energy in developing countries and the development of EGS technology will drive future growth
Advantages and challenges
Geothermal energy offers several advantages as a clean, renewable, and reliable energy source
However, geothermal development also faces challenges that need to be addressed to realize its full potential
Overcoming these challenges requires technological innovation, policy support, and increased public awareness
Reliability and consistency
Geothermal energy provides consistent, baseload power, independent of weather conditions or time of day
Geothermal plants have high capacity factors (>90%) and long operational lifetimes (30-50 years)
Geothermal resources are less subject to seasonal or annual fluctuations compared to hydro or biomass
Scalability and flexibility
Geothermal plants can be built in a modular fashion, allowing for incremental capacity additions
Geothermal energy can be used for both electricity generation and direct heating applications
Geothermal resources can be cascaded to maximize efficiency, using high-temperature resources for electricity and lower-temperature resources for heating
Environmental sustainability
Geothermal energy has a low carbon footprint and minimal air pollutant emissions
Geothermal plants have a small land footprint and can coexist with other land uses (agriculture, tourism)
Proper management and monitoring minimize the environmental impacts of geothermal development
Technological and financial hurdles
Identifying and characterizing geothermal resources requires advanced exploration techniques and data analysis
Drilling deep, high-temperature wells is technologically challenging and expensive
High upfront costs and financial risks can deter investors and hinder geothermal development
Continued research and development are needed to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of geothermal technologies