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- Understanding deep geothermal energy
Understanding deep geothermal energy

Energy from sources other than fossil and nuclear fuels is, to a large extent, free of the concerns about environmental effects and renewability that characterise those two sources. Each alternative source supplies energy continually, whether or not we use it. This free course, Understanding deep geothermal energy, considers one of these alternative sources, geothermal energy, derived from the interior heat of the Earth, and the potential for this alternative to supplant fossil and nuclear fuel to power social needs fast enough to avoid the likelihood of future global warming and other kinds of pollution.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- explain the principles that underlie the ability of geothermal energy to deliver useable energy
- outline the technologies that are used to harness the power of geothermal energy
- discuss the positive and negative aspects of geothermal energy in relation to natural and human aspects of the environment.
First Published: 09/08/2012
Updated: 22/03/2016
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Course content
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Geothermal energy
- 2 High- to medium-enthalpy steam fields
- 3 Hot dry rock (HDR) fields
- 4 Locating high-enthalpy geothermal fields
- 5 Geothermal power plants
- 6 Direct heating using geothermal energy
- 7 The pros and cons, and future of geothermal energy
- Conclusion
- Keep on learning
- References
- Acknowledgements
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About this free course
4 hours study
Level 2: Intermediate
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