Geothermal Energy

The document describes geothermal energy as the third largest renewable energy source, noting that the United States is the world's largest producer with 2,800 MW of connected capacity. It details three power plant technologies—flash steam, dry steam, and binary cycle—alongside direct-use and heat pump applications. Key benefits include base load power availability and significantly lower CO2 emissions compared to coal, though the document notes risks such as land subsidence and induced seismicity.

• The United States is the global leader in geothermal energy production, with 2,800 MW of electrical capacity connected to the grid, compared to 8,000 MW installed worldwide. The US Geological Survey has identified approximately 22,000 MW of resources sufficient for power generation in the US.
• The Geysers in California is the world's largest geothermal development, operating since 1960 with a capacity exceeding 850 MW, which meets nearly 70 percent of the average electrical demand for the Californian North Coast region.
• Geothermal energy provides significant environmental benefits over coal, emitting 35 times less CO2 per kilowatt of electricity produced. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, geothermal plants prevent 4.1 million tons of CO2 emissions annually that would otherwise be generated by coal plants.
• Geothermal technologies are categorized into direct use (e.g., heating buildings or greenhouses), heat pumps utilizing constant surface temperatures between 50°F and 60°F, and three types of power plants: flash steam (water above 360°F), dry steam, and binary cycle (water between 200-300°F).
• Potential drawbacks of geothermal energy include land subsidence caused by the removal of water or steam from underground reservoirs, and induced seismicity, typically resulting in small earthquakes registering 2 to 3 on the Richter scale.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2006). Geothermal Energy. https://www.eesi.org/files/geothermal_0506.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Geothermal Energy. 2006. https://www.eesi.org/files/geothermal_0506.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Geothermal Energy |date=May 2006 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/geothermal_0506.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2006geothermal, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Geothermal Energy}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/geothermal_0506.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }