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Geothermal Power. Justin Henriksen & Dom Quade. Source. Earth's Crust- Difference in temperature from surface to about 10 meters down Can be anywhere, but most favorable sites need accessible hot springs Western U.S. is a hotspot. Technology. Tap into naturally occurring
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Geothermal Power Justin Henriksen & Dom Quade
Source • Earth's Crust- Difference in temperature from surface to about 10 meters down • Can be anywhere, but most favorable sites need accessible hot springs • Western U.S. is a hotspot
Technology • Tap into naturally occurring "hydrothermal convection" where cooler water seeps into Earth's crusts, is heated up, and then rises to the surface • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ajqiPe_9Ko • Special heat-absorbing liquids • Complex series of coils and pipes in residential sites
Uses at home • Heating and Cooling • Constant Ground Temperature at 10m. • Can be anywhere
Electrical Production • Needs to be at a hot spring or other place of tectonic activity.
Industrial Costs and Obstacles • Greatest cost is building facility for electricity plant. • New technologies for smaller-scale operations could be a tipping point. • Coils and pipes could be the next big thing.
Residential Costs and Obstacles • Digging costs high, but pays for itself very quickly. • Heat-absorbing chemicals, pipes and coils are becoming easier to implement.
Environment (large scale) • Needs land to set up power plant and other apparatus, but not as much as a caol plant. • No mining • Carbon-free
Environment (small scale) • No real environmental costs (all underground) • Chemicals well contained • Good for environment, lowers CO2 emissions
Investments • Better at small scale • Big plants risky • Nevada plant under performing • Can save 70% on heating and cooling in residential and businesses