about geothermal energy

Advantages of geothermal energy:
1. Geothermal energy is renewable.

2. Geothermal energy can provide a continuous energy supply for a long time. For places near resources, geothermal energy may be relatively cheap.
3. Geothermal energy doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect. Geothermal energy produces much less carbon dioxide and fewer atmospheric pollutants compared to fossil fuels. Nitrogen oxide emissions are much lower too.

4. Geothermal power plants require very little land. Other land uses can mingle with geothermal plants with little interference or fear of accidents. Geothermal power plants tend to have less impact on the surrounding environment too.

5. Because geothermal energy is energy in and of itself, no outside sources of fuel are needed to keep the power houses running. There is no fuel cost for geothermal energy.


Disadvantages of geothermal energy:
1. People cannot just set up a geothermal power station anywhere they want. They need a location that offers just the right kind of hot rocks. Locating zones of hot rock many kilometers underground is expensive.
2. Systems to extract and use geothermal energy can be expensive to build and operate.

3. A geothermal site might run out of steam.

4. Geothermal energy can cause air and water pollution. When people are drilling into the earth and steam is able to escape, hazardous gases and minerals can seep up from beneath the ground, and finding a way to safely dispose of them may prove very difficult and dangerous.