Activity 3.2.3 – Alternative Energy – Geothermal Energy

Alternative energy is most commonly defined as renewable energy as "in general, most industrialized countries do not rely on it as their main energy source" (Mutiti, 3). Some of these renewable alternative energy sources include "wind, water, solar or biomass" (Mutiti, 3). As the world operates today, we need energy for all functions in our society. However, "current levels of energy consumption and production are not sustainable because of the heavy reliance on non-renewable energy sources" (Mutiti, 3). If we as a society continue to rely on these non-renewable resources, they will all be depleted soon. This is why it is very important that countries start to invest in renewable energy sources. Another argument for renewable resources: "energy comes from the sun (considered an "unlimited"; some renewable energy sources are really indirect forms of solar energy" (Mutiti, 3). Because of our dependence on energy, our consumption of energy only continues to grow higher, especially as the world population continues to grow and as more humans are born the more resources are needed to keep people alive "As a global society, we consumed over twice as much energy in 2015 than we did in 1973" (Mutiti, 4). This is why, as time passes and as we require more and more energy we must understand that non-renewable resources will one day run out and when that day happens we need enough renewable resource suppliers. One of the most popular options for producing energy is a process called geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is the process of "heat from the Earth's internal geologic processes to produce electricity or provide heating" (Mutiti, 20), meaning this source can and is in fact a endless source of energy. All the heat made from the earth's core comes outward from the center and requires three specific things to work" heat, permeability, and water" (Mutiti, 20). From being heated up beneath the earth's crust, steam flows up to the factory where it can be converted into electricity. While this process does hold a lot of potential, there is a wide area of drawbacks. The most pressing issue is the lifespan of a geothermal plant. Because geothermal plants use the earth's temperature to create electricity, plants must dig deep below the earth past the earth's crust. Such plants cost a lot of money. However, due to the movement of "the earth’s crust naturally shifting over time and an area that produces hot groundwater now may not always so do" (Mutiti, 22) which for all the work done, investing into the plant is a risky investment as the lifespan of a geothermal can be cut short at any techtonic plate shift. Another disadvantage is that geothermal plants can actually run out of water to make electricity from "the plant will eventually run out of water" (Mutiti, 21-22) so while it is not discussed it most likely costs money to have to pump water back down below to make more steam. Despite the risks, Iceland has pursued this energy source and in "2016 geothermal energy provided about 65% of primary energy" (Government of Iceland, 1) for the country of Iceland. While this energy source may be risky in the long term, there are many benefits to be had if geothermal energy was more heavily invested into that cannot be ignored. Work Cited Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia. Energy, Government of Iceland, 2016, www.government.is/topics/business-and-industry/energy/.