Geothermal Study Provides Promise for Your Campus

By Suhail Barot and Emily Cross, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champagne

 

In October, Google released the results of a nearly half a million dollar grant to the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Geothermal Lab, creating the most detailed geothermal maps to date. Not only did the researchers add tens of thousands of new thermal data points, but it also painted a very different picture of the potential for this clean energy that colleges nationwide can access.

The maps developed by SMU depict the heat flow of the geology in North America. When heat flows through the ground, like in water and rocks, it is possible to tap into that energy. Geothermal power plants work like normal power plants – except without burning any fuels. After piping down into the earth to capture hot water and steam, plants use this energy to push a turbine that is connected to a generator.

So what’s so special about the maps that Google commissioned? Using previously unattainable data and looking at the energy flow in a more detailed manner, researchers at SMU developed a heat flow map that shows potential in areas that were once considered inaccessible. It looked at energy that could be accessed with new technologies, like tapping into heat deep below ground, even those with relatively low temperatures.

According to the SMU laboratory, only .3% of the energy we currently produce comes from geothermal energy, which barely makes a dent in getting our country off of fossil fuels. But the results of this study show that geothermal could provide three times the total energy production in the United States.

That offers huge possibilities for more projects to be developed on campuses nationwide. According to a report on campus geothermal projects by the National Wildlife Federation, two and four-year colleges collectively could not only dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but also save a whopping $2-7 billion dollars using geothermal.

Ohio State University is one of these campuses pursuing lower energy costs by installing geothermal. Their five new high-rises will be heated and cooled partially by geothermal energy – cutting costs by one-third. Ball State University is also installing a geothermal system of its own, and is expecting a $2 million savings and a 50% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Trying to find a way to make your campus less fossil fuel dependent? Take a look at the results of this study. Chances are that the answer is hiding underneath your feet. 

 

Comments

[Sevgi]

Hydroelectric is bad. The dams necessary cause a LOT of enmnronveital damage by disrupting the water flow and the habitat or many species. Look up the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam to learn about one of the more controlled issues. There have been many hydroelectric projects, especially in the former USSR that completely destroyed an entire regions ecological system and commerce because of the rerouting of water.I don't like solar because of the chemicals it takes to produce the photovoltaic cells. Other than that it is on its way to becoming quite efficient and versatile.I haven't done much research on geothermal, but I think it takes way too much work and disruption of the local environment to be the best option.I like wind the best. I know that some people are worried about wind farms disrupting the flight patterns of migratory birds, and killing birds as well. Therefor, I think it is a great idea to build these farms out at sea, where there is far less bird traffic.So, I think we should primarily use wind power, with solar power being a supplemental option, especially for remote locations, as you can (or will be able to, soon) produce a lot of power on site with a single panel. There is also a lot of interesting research going on with solar power. Scientists are working on a photovoltaic film that could be adhered to car windows and could aid or take the place of a car battery.

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I think, this theme is quite actual now. The maps developed by SMU depict the heat flow of the geology in North America. When heat flows through the ground, like in water and rocks, it is possible to tap into that energy. Geothermal power plants work like normal power plants – except without burning any fuels. After piping down into the earth to capture hot water and steam, plants use this energy to push a turbine that is connected to a generator.