Geothermal Plant in America

To begin, these two videos neatly summaries how geothermal energy can be harnessed in the home for private use.

Figure 1: Explanation of geothermal energy with case study focus

Figure 2: Explanation of geothermal energy on a global scale.

Geothermal energy can be utilised to an effective extent as summarised in the figures 1 and 2. The possibilities that the earth energy possesses is now being used on a global scale as well as in the home and locally also.

Neal Hot Springs plant begins operation in  and is generating 28 megawatts of electricity - enough to power over 25000 homes (The Associated Press, 2013). The plant system pumps water at around 300 degrees from a reservoir 2500 feet underground. This water vapor turns a turbine to run a generator - the water is returned to the ground at a temperature of around 140 degrees to be reheated again (The Associated Press, 2013). This process is completely renewable as the water vapor is recyclable back in to the system. It is estimated that the project cost $143.6 million (U.S. Geothermal Inc., 2013). 

Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Plant. Source: reNews, 2012

Several hundred people worked on the construction of the geothermal plant and 20 ongoing jobs (The Associated Press, 2013a) are expected to continue to be offered in connection with the running of the plant. This shows how renewable energy power plant construction can have extra benefits on the wider community with the creation of jobs and more investment through salaries in to the local community. Many projects are associated also with training local people in running renewable energy programs. 

 This website provides a great source of information on the development of the project.


References

reNews (2012) Oregon Geothermal Pumping Power [online]13th December. Available at: http://renews.biz/oregon-geothermal-pumping-power/ [accessed on 21st March 2013]

The Associated press (2013) [online] 4th March. Available at: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/viewart/20130305/NEWS/303050012/Eastern-Oregon-geothermal-plant-up-running [accessed on 19th March 2013]

The Associated Press (2013a) Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Plant Begins Operation [online]4th March Available at: http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/03/neal_hot_springs_geothermal_pl.html [accessed on 21st March 2013]

U.S. Geothermal Inc. (2007) Neal Hot Springs Project [online] avaiable at: http://www.usgeothermal.com/NealHotSpringProject.aspx [accessed on 21st March 2013]