[domenad]

I have never understood how Geothermal energy works. Theoretically, a very hot earth core would radiate heat outward until temperature throughout the crust equalized. What produces the heat? If you drain the core of heat, how is it replenished?

[Uncledave]

here's and Aussie firm working on this:
http://www.geodynamics.com.au/

[eraser2005]

Very interesting stuff - thanks for the post

[scooter2]

Abundant, yes. However, it's going to be very expensive to create such reservoirs in areas where near-surface geothermal sources are not available.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm not sure about the "anywhere in the world" part,but I've seen geothermal power at work in a city in New Zealand called Rotorua.

Many,if not most,of the buildings in the town are heated by geothermal steam (it's located in an active geothermal area).

The downside is that when you're walking down the street you can get a powerful,and unpleasant,smell of sulfur in the air.

[RightWhale]

What technology do you need to open up the rock and harvest the heat?

Nukes

[Michael.SF.]

I don't think the Geyser's is the largest area of Geothermal production in the USA. I believe that honor would go to the Imperial Valley.

Geothermal Energy is not inexpensive due to the corrosiveness and abrasiveness of the fluid and it's effect on the equipment needed to convert this source to energy. The Geothermal Brine pumps for example are made primarily by only one company in the USA (Johnston Pumps), as such the costs are not onbly high due to materials, but unusually high due to higher then normal margins. Others have tried, but with limited success (Flowserve, Goulds, Floway).

Geothermal sounds like a good idea, but it is far more difficult then this article implies.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We put in a geothermal system (four 200 foot wells under our driveway) when we built our new house five years ago. The AC is essentially free.

[CedarDave]

Don't want to inject fluids under pressure near earthquake zones:
Earthquake Studies -- Triggering quakes with waste

BTW, President Bush installed a geothermal heat pump at his new ranch house in Crawford; however, the pipes are only 300 feet deep, not anywhere near the depth proposed here, and use naturally occurring constant temperature groundwater for heat exchange.

[Onelifetogive]

Imagine that only a fraction of a percent comes out. It's still big.

Imagine if I could convince "only a fraction of a percent" of the people on earth to give me $10.......I'd be rich!!!!!

[WakeUpAndVote]

[SmithL]

That's all we need, more Global Warming.

[backhoe]

Cool- here's an old post of mine:

Geothermal- Promising Power, or dead-end dillema?

[wolfcreek]

A few years back when We were visiting Cali, I saw 'The Geysers' on a map and thought they would be cool to see. After driving 30 or 40 miles, We pulled up to a power plant, looked at each other and began to laugh. Duped Again!

[blam]

Geothermal Energy In Gulf Coast Texas

Gulf Coast Test Wells

[uncbob]

Environmental Wackos will find something to bitch about
Count on it

[AFreeBird]

Paging FR resident drilling geologist, please pick up the white courtesy phone

[KSCITYBOY]

The enviros will claim eco damage.

[Smokin' Joe]

Drill Yellowstone!! Chill the Caldera!!!