Does Geothermal Energy Have a Future?
Use of renewable energy has started gaining more importance in context of green house gas emission, global warming and ozone layer depletion. Also it is seen that the future has to depend on non conventional energy resources because conventional resources are depleting fast and may be extinct soon, so development of alternative resources has become a must.
In future the geothermal energy can be used for the following:
Community heating systems- the heating system can be used to keep a large group of houses hot during winters and hot water can also be passed through pipes to many houses using single connection thus bringing down the cost of establishment.
Production of small and large scale power- hot dry rock system, where water is passed onto dry rock in the deep layers of earth and heating the water for production of electricity. Since cleaner electricity can be produced it can be used in large scale. Small scale and large scale power production for various domestic and industrial use, can be done in the future.
Heating greenhouses- In agriculture greenhouses can be kept warm during cool climate and cool during hot climate using geothermal energy, so that productivity of the plants can be increased and pest and disease attack can be minimised. It is seen that 80% of fuel cost is reduced when geothermal energy is used and also 5-8% of operating cost is reduced.
In aquaculture – the water can be maintained at a constant temperature thus bringing in more productivity and healthier fishes. It also provides cleaner air and water for the fishes.
Industrial uses- In industries such as dehydration of vegetables like garlic and onion and fruits can be done using geothermal energy. In laundry industry hot water can be used, in pasteurisation of milk, gold and other metal mining.
Geothermal energy can also be used in swimming pools and in spas.
It is already seen that commercial use of heating geothermal systems are being used to heat the roads during snow. Pipes, carrying hot water is passed under the roads, which removes the condensed snow on the surface of the road.
More research can be done in context of improving conducting fluids and can be improved so that heat is retained for more time and the quality of energy is improved.
Air coolers and refrigeration- Methods to condense air and cool the air has also been developed. This can be used to bring about cooling systems for larger areas and also to refrigerate food items. Agricultural produce which require large areas under refrigeration can also be brought about.
With so many perspective uses of geothermal energy, the future is quite bright.
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