Geothermal energy is like any other natural energy source at our disposal and can therefore be used in many ways, such as the production of large quantities of electricity or in the form of pumping systems. In this article, SOFATH, a company specializing in energy solutions, explains the different uses of geothermal energy.
What is geothermal energy?
To begin with, it can be defined as a renewable energy source because heat and steam are produced permanently underground and are therefore available to us at all times. This energy can be used in 2 ways, the first one is the direct use or application of energy while the other one is the production of electricity. Direct use, on the other hand, refers to the production of heat or steam directly from underground resources without the use of a heat pump or geothermal plant.
The fields of use of geothermal energy
Geothermal energy can be used in several areas, among which we mainly cite :
Industry
Paper mills use geothermal energy for all stages of paper processing. The same is true for mining plants that extract precious metals such as gold, silver, etc. Some plants in the agri-food sector use the heat from this energy to preserve fruits and vegetables for longer because it eliminates the water contained in the food. With geothermal drying, the colour, flavour and freshness of food is not affected. Even the nutritional value of the processed food is preserved. The use of this energy source benefits many industries around the world. Its uses are common in countries such as Switzerland, New Zealand, etc. In New Zealand, it is mainly used to produce electricity.
The production of electricity
Electricity generation is one of the two main uses of geothermal energy. Because it is a very energy-efficient method that does not emit harmful gases. The use of geothermal energy is common, even for residential purposes, in the form of geothermal heating and cooling systems. In France, heat pumps are widely used to provide hot water because the operating costs are relatively low once the energy production system is available and because this energy has the smallest carbon footprint of all other energy sources. In addition, underground geothermal systems are not exposed. This is a very important advantage in extreme weather conditions because it protects essential energy supplies from natural disasters that threaten surface units.
If you are interested in this energy and want to integrate it into your home. We recommend that you contact the company SOFATH. Its technical team will explain to you the procedure to follow as well as the solutions best adapted to your case.
