In areas like the volcanic “Big Island” of Hawaii, where there is abundant heat close to the surface of the Earth, and also an abundance of water, drilling can allow some of that water to be turned into steam and in turn, electrical power. The process is almost totally renewable, since the water (after being condensed from steam into liquid) is then returned to the ground. And while generating electricity this way is currently still more expensive than burning fossil fuels, increasing fuel costs may make it more competitive in the near future.
In addition, future improvements in technology may make it more feasible to utilize “dry” thermal energy, i.e. heat contained underground essentially everywhere on Earth.
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About Me
- Tom Owens
- I'm interested in nature, technology, and the human interface between the two. I see anthropocentrism (often combined with ethnocentrism and/or excessive religious fervor) as probably the most damaging human mindset, at least environmentally-speaking. A great goal of mine is to inspire a love of nature in people. I believe we will all benefit if everyone can create a bond with other organisms and feel the connectedness of all life on our planet. We all have to realize that humans are not separate from the rest of nature.
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