Geothermal energy is the heat coming from the earth and is located under the surface of it. The heat is more extrem the further you go into the earth. Several Miles into the earth you can find the magma rocks, which are extremly hot. However you can already find some heat from shallow ground.
These temperatures can be used to generate electricity in order to heat buildings in the winter. Thanks to a heat pump system, which takes the constant temperature from the earth, we are able to do so. In the summer we can transfer the heat from the buildings into the ground.
Examples:
1. With the geothermal energy and the heat pump you can heat your house in an easy and ecological way.
2. Active Volcanos, Geysers and hot springs are examples of this energy and can be found in the nature.
The Situation in Switzerland
As you can see in the graph, the geothermal energy is increasing each year since 2008. The geothermal probe is by far the most common item to gain energy.
Quiz Question:
At what time of the year could we use the system of geothermal energy?
- summer
- winter
- summer and winter
Vocabulary:
Geothermal energy - Erdwärme
heat pump - Wärmepumpe
geothermal probe - Erdwärmesonde
Source:
Geothermal Energy 2020 (nationalgeographic.com)
Geothermie Schweiz 2018 (geothermie-schweiz.ch)
Team: Matteo and Alex