Geothermal Energy in Australia
Geothermal energy is being investigated as a possible energy source for the electricity generation primarily because of its enormous potential to power cities like Adelaide for a very long time. About 3-5 kilometers below the surface of Australia are huge resources of granite that the molten core of the earth has heated to about 250 degrees centigrade. One cubic kilometer of hot granite at this temperature has the same energy potential as 40 million barrels of oil.
It is considered to be far more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels because it has zero carbon emissions and uses the natural heat from the earth to create steam from water that drives turbines to generate electricity. Unlike burning natural gas (CH4, Methane) for example, geothermal power stations do not release Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, as shown below:
H2O (l) (arrow) H2O(g) (Simply heating water until evaporates into......
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