ABSTRACT
Sustainable development requires the use of new and sustainable energy sources, energy conservation and systems having higher efficiency. Energy use is predicted to continue increasing worldwide, while the geothermal energy, among other renewable energy sources for electricity generation and heating is also predicted to increase significantly. Geothermal energy resources correspond to the accessible thermal energy stored into Earth interior that can used to generate electricity, or provide heat and hot water. Geothermal energy, in the form of natural steam and hot water, has been exploited for long time for heating, hot water or electricity generation. It is advantageous because it is renewable, reliable, environmentally friendly and efficient, a geothermal power plant can generate electricity 95% of the time. However, the way in which geothermal energy resources are utilized, determine whether or not is a sustainable utilization. Geothermal resources span a wide range of heat Earth’s sources, which include easily developed, currently economic hydrothermal resources, and the deeper stored thermal energy, present everywhere. Although conventional hydrothermal resources are used effectively for electric and nonelectric applications, are limited to their location and ultimate potential for supplying electricity. Earth’s geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply world energy needs, but only a tiny fraction may or can be economically exploited. Geothermal energy, virtually limitless, originating from depth increasing Earth temperature, is derived from: (1) steam trapped deep into the Earth, brought to the surface, used to drive turbine-generator units to produce electricity, and (2) water heated by pumping it through deep hot rocks used to provide heat or steam for buildings and industrial processes.
