Geothermal 101
Geothermal energy – literally heat from the earth – is a clean and versatile, naturally occurring renewable resource that can help meet the world’s increasing energy needs.
Geothermal Electric Power Production
High temperature geothermal resources, usually above 300°F (149°C), are accessed by drilling production wells. From the wells, the steam or hot water is brought to the surface and piped to a geothermal power plant where its energy is used by a steam turbine to generate electricity.
Geothermal Heat Pump
Geothermal heat pumps are used to heat and cool buildings by way of a heat exchanger that pulls heat or sinks heat from the relatively constant ambient temperature of the ground.
Geothermal Energy in California
California is unique not only in the United States, but in the world due to its abundance of geothermal energy. California possesses the second largest geothermal resource of any political entity on the planet.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
Geothermal Systems have primarily been developed in regions along continental plate boundaries. Now Enhanced Geothermal Systems technology could extend the potential of geothermal energy to almost anywhere on Earth.