Pioneering Power From Geothermal Energy

As oil prices climb, researchers and communities scramble for substitutes, including geothermal energy. Producers run pipes deep below the ground, with its constant temperature, and a system relying on a mixture of water and ammonia maximizes power generation. “Geothermal energy has one big advantage over other forms of renewables," writes Tobias Lill for Spiegel Online. "Since it uses the heat of the Earth's deep crust to heat water for power, it is available around the clock -- unlike solar and wind energy. A thousand liters of 120 degree (248 degrees F) water is pumped up from more than 3,350 meters (11,000 feet) below the surface of the Earth per minute.” With rising oil prices, the plants pay for themselves quickly, and Germany has plans for about 150 geothermal plants. – YaleGlobal