By Jeffrey Winters
Engineers and geologists are working to turn deep geothermal energy into a reliable source of renewable power. According to a recent Department of Energy document, “GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet,” the heat flow emanating from radioactive decay in the molten core of the Earth is 44.2 terawatts, about twice the world power consumption. While it is unlikely that humans could tap all that power economically, harnessing even some of it could be a boon.
While some places offer enough heat for electric power production, tapping lower grade geothermal resources can supply heat for a number of applications—from regulating the temperature of greenhouses to process industry uses such as the drying of textiles, lumber, or concrete blocks.