There are many geothermal energy applications. They include energy generation, direct use applications, geothermal heat pumps, and district heating.
Electricity Generation:
- Dry Steam Power Plants: These power plants use high-temperature steam directly from geothermal reservoirs to turn turbines and generate electricity.
- Flash Steam Power Plants: They use high-pressure hot water from geothermal reservoirs. The hot water is depressurized to produce steam, which drives turbines.
- Binary Cycle Power Plants: These systems use moderate-temperature geothermal fluids (lower than steam) to heat a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point (usually an organic compound). The secondary fluid vaporizes and drives a turbine.
Direct Use Applications:
- Space Heating: Geothermal energy can be used to heat buildings directly through the circulation of hot water or steam in underground pipes or radiators.
- Greenhouse Heating: Geothermal heat is used in agriculture to control the temperature in greenhouses for year-round crop production.
- Aquaculture Pond Heating: It is used to maintain optimal water temperatures for fish farming.
- Industrial Processes: Some industries use geothermal heat for various processes, such as drying lumber or food products.
Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs):
- Ground-source heat pumps use the relatively stable temperature of the Earth just below the surface to provide efficient heating and cooling for buildings. GHPs are common in residential and commercial applications.
District Heating:
- In some urban areas, geothermal heat can be distributed through a network of pipes to provide heating and hot water to multiple buildings.
Read about the sources of geothermal energy.