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What are the steps in geothermal electricity generation?
Drill wells, extract hot water/steam, spin turbine, generate electricity, cool steam, return water to Earth.
Describe the process of using geothermal heat pumps for building climate control.
Circulate fluid through underground pipes, absorb/release heat from/to the Earth, transfer heat to/from building.
Why is geothermal energy considered a renewable resource?
The Earth continuously produces heat, making it a resource that replenishes itself.
How does geothermal energy contribute to reducing reliance on fossil fuels?
It provides an alternative energy source that doesn't depend on finite fossil fuel reserves.
Explain the concept of a closed-loop system in geothermal power plants.
Cooled water is pumped back into the Earth after use, minimizing water waste and environmental impact.
What is the role of a turbine in a geothermal power plant?
The turbine is spun by steam, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which then generates electricity.
Explain why geothermal energy is location-dependent.
Geothermal resources are not evenly distributed; they are concentrated in areas with volcanic activity or tectonic plate boundaries.
What are the primary sources of heat within the Earth that contribute to geothermal energy?
Radioactive decay of materials in the Earth's core and residual heat from the planet's formation.
What are the steps in geothermal electricity generation?
Deep well → Hot water/steam → Turbine → Electricity → Cooling → Back to Earth.
Outline the process of accessing geothermal energy.
Drill wells, pump hot water/steam to surface under pressure.
How is electricity generated from geothermal sources?
Steam spins a turbine connected to a generator.
What happens to the steam after it spins the turbine?
Cooled, condensed into water, pumped back into Earth.