WorldWide Drilling Resource

32 MAY 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Geothermal Myths Debunked Adapted from Information from the U.S. Department of Energy When it comes to renewable energy, geothermal energy doesn’t get as much credit as it should. Surprisingly, many people don’t realize geothermal energy can help meet U.S. energy demands by supplying power to our electric grid and even be used to heat and cool homes and businesses. It’s time to debunk some of the myths people have about this clean, renewable resource. Myth 1 - We could run out of geothermal energy. Actually, geothermal energy will be around as long as the planet exists, and will never deplete. Myth 2 - Renewable energy cannot supply energy all the time. In reality, geothermal power plants produce electricity consistently, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of weather con- ditions. The power output of a geothermal power plant is highly pre- dictable and stable, which leads to extremely accurate energy planning. Geothermal power plants are also an excellent means of meeting baseload energy demand (i.e. the minimum level of de- mand on an electrical grid during a 24-hour period). Myth 3 - Geothermal power plants take up a lot of space. This myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Geothermal energy ac- tually has the smallest land footprint of any comparable energy source in the world. They are compact and use less land per gigawatt hour than coal, wind, or solar plants. Myth 4 - Generating electrical power from geothermal sources causes pollution. The fact is, modern closed-loop geothermal power plants do not emit greenhouse gases at all, and they consume less water than most conventional power generation technologies. Myth 5 - Geothermal energy is only accessible in certain parts of the United States. Since all areas have nearly the same shallow ground temperature, geothermal heat pumps can be used just about any- where in the United States. However, systems in different states will have varying degrees of efficiency and cost savings. So, the next time you hear someone spreading one of these myths, jump in and give them the facts! GEO