What are apparent environment impacts associated with Geothermal Energy?
•Emissions are low. Only excess steam is emitted by geothermal flash powerplants. No air emissions or liquids are discharged by binary geothermal plants because they don't burn fuel.
• Some geothermal plants do produce some solid materials, or sludges, that require disposal in approved sites. Some of these solids are now being extracted for sale (zinc, silica, and sulfur, for example), making the resource even more valuable and environmentally friendly.
Are there hidden environmental and social costs?
It seems that there are no costs with geothermal energy.
Is Geothermal Energy widely accepted today?
• Because of the primary costs and the need for space, geothermal energy is not widely used.
• Geothermal power is 'free', and collecting it is moderately priced, but there are technologial limits to how well the energy can be collected, and there are only a few suitable places where it can be collected.
• Geothermal has turned out to be depletable, with limited capacity, falling output, and modest new investment.
• Geothermal power is 'free', and collecting it is moderately priced, but there are technologial limits to how well the energy can be collected, and there are only a few suitable places where it can be collected.
• Geothermal has turned out to be depletable, with limited capacity, falling output, and modest new investment.
Do the costs of Geothermal Energy make it prohibitive for common use?
No, at The Geysers, power is sold at $0.03 to $0.035 per kWh. A power plant built today would probably require about $0.05 per kWh. Some plants can charge more during peak demand periods.