10/17/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/17/2024 07:23
No matter the method of generation, geothermal energy is based on the constant heat generated from the Earth's core, making it a reliable source of base-load electricity that operates 24/7, regardless of external weather conditions.
Most energy power plants, such as coal or nuclear power plants, require large volumes of water for cooling, but geothermal plants, especially those using dry-cooling systems, can operate with minimal water use. This reduction in water dependency not only preserves vital freshwater resources but also helps avoid the negative environmental impacts associated with the heavy water usage in other energy sectors.
As they both use similar technologies and rely on drilling, some abandoned oil and natural gas wells in the West have been retrofitted to become sites for geothermal production. The abandoned wells are surveyed, evaluated, reconfigured, and then used to establish a heat exchange system to develop into a new geothermal power plant.