Geothermal energy
Mining the heat residing as stored thermal energy in the Earth's hard rock crust could supply a substantial portion of the electricity the United States will need in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact.
A recent MIT-led study shows that drilling several wells to reach hot rock and connecting them to a fractured rock region that has been stimulated to let water flow through it creates a heat-exchanger that can produce large amounts of hot water or steam to run electric generators at the surface. Unlike conventional fossil-fuel power plants that burn coal, natural gas or oil, no fuel would be required.
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Anthropogenic Climate Change »Anthropogenic Climate Change
Responding to climate change? »Responding to climate change?
Immediate action required »Immediate action required
How to reduce the risks/impact of climate change? »How to reduce the risks/impact of climate change?
Radical restructuring of the energy sector »Radical restructuring of the energy sector
Generate energy from non-fossil fuel and renewable sources »Generate energy from non-fossil fuel and renewable sources
Geothermal energy
Drilling into hot rock and pumping down / recycling pressurised water »Drilling into hot rock and pumping down / recycling pressurised water
Tapping into hot underground sources of water »Tapping into hot underground sources of water
Geothermal energy has low running costs »Geothermal energy has low running costs
Geothermal energy is renewable »Geothermal energy is renewable
Only available where Earth's crust thin / hot rocks near the surface »Only available where Earth's crust thin / hot rocks near the surface
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