What is Geothermal Energy?

By Dilys & Doug Griffiths. - 03/03/2008

How many of us realise what a furious furnace lies below our feet? This shows up in various parts of the world with hot water springs and steam vents – more often known for their health giving and spa qualities.  Energy obtained from the heat trapped within the earth’s core forces its way through to the surface of the earth in big blasts of steam, via geysers.  The water pumps out via hot springs and molten lava erupts via volcanoes. These are famous attractions for Tourists but perhaps more important, they are proving to be a large alternative source of energy. Geothermal Energy.Take California for example where there are both hot springs and geysers.  Engineers there are able to make use of them for heat and energy sources.  They are able to supply this energy to a population of about 350,000 people.

 

Japan has a lot of geothermal energy sources and are continuously developing its powers for its population; although they still have to import coal and oil as additional sources.

 

Today, other Countries following in their footsteps are: The Philippines, Nicaragua, Kenya, New Zealand and in various parts of the U.S.A.  Naturally occurring hot water sources are about 20 times more likely to be discovered than steam throughout the world.

 

Looking into the future, it is a comforting to think we now know Geothermal Energy, waiting to be tapped, is estimated to be about 300 times the world’s total energy requirement.  

 

Looking into the past, in 1884 a certain English Engineer, C.A.Parsons, invented a steam turbine for driving electric generators.  In 1904 Parsons, after becoming interested in natural energy, delivered a lecture to the Institute of Electrical Engineers. He explained ways of trapping the earth’s energy and showed them his design for a Geothermal System – the first in the world! 

 

No further designs came forward until 1924 when Prince Ginori Conti (an Italian Prince), opened the world’s first commercial power station.  This was at Larderello  and was  constructed  in the  region of the Tuscany Steam Springs.  In his opening speech, the Prince gave credit to C.A.Parsons for his discoveries 20 years earlier.