20 facts about Geothermal energy

1. Geothermal power (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth, and thermos, meaning heat) is power extracted from heat stored in the earth.
2. Geothermal energy is often referred to as geothermal power.
3. This geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, and from solar energy absorbed at the surface.
4. Geothermal energy is sustainable because hot water can be re-injected into the ground.
5. It has been used for bathing since Paleolithic times and for space heating since ancient Roman times, but is now better known for generating electricity.
6. Worldwide, geothermal plants have the capacity to generate about 10 gigawatts of electricity as of 2007, and in practice supply 0.3% of global electricity demand.
7. Geothermal energy supplies less than 10 % of the world's energy.
8. Geothermal wells release greenhouse gases trapped deep within the earth, but these emissions are much lower per energy unit than those of fossil fuels.
9. Geothermal energy is energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earth's surface.
10. The Earth's geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply humanity's energy needs, but only a very small fraction of it may be profitably exploited.
11. Geothermal energy is very important energy source in volcanically active places such as new Zealand and Iceland.
12. Geothermal energy is main energy source in Iceland.
13. Geothermal energy has three main uses: Heating, Electricity generation and Geothermal heat pumps.
14. Geothermal energy can be found in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers.
15. Geothermal energy's amount of electricity is less than 1 percent of total electricity produced in the USA.
16. Geothermal energy is giving 18 % of Iceland's total electricity.
17. Geothermal energy could produce 10 percent of US electricity by the year 2050.
18. Geothermal energy widely exploited in Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Philippines and in USA mostly in California and Nevada.
19. Geothermal energy could supply US with more than 30,000 MW of power by 2025.
20. Geothermal energy can be easily found and exploited along the "Ring of Fire" region.