ENERGY FROM VOLCANOES

• Since our country is a home to more than ahundred of volcanoes, energy has beentapped from the. Actually, the Philippinesranked second in the world’s production ofgeothermal energy. Of the country’s totalelectricity production, 27% is generated inthe power plants. The production ofelectricity from geothermal energy ischeaper than the electricity production usingnatural gas, coal and hydropower.

What is geothermal energy?

• The Earth is believed to be extremely

hot from within. This heat from the

Earth’s interior is a source of energy

called geothermal energy. The heat of

the Earth warms up water which is

trapped in rock formations beneath its

surface.

How is geothermal energy

generated?

• Geothermal energy is generated in

two ways: geothermal plants and

geothermal heat pumps. They differ

on the depth of heat source to

produce energy.

GEOTHERMAL POWER

PLANTS

• In geothermal power plants, the heat

from deep inside the Earth is used to

produce steam to generate electricity.

This type of natural energy production

is environmentally friendly and used in

many geothermal hot spots around

the world.

• To harness the energy, deep holes

are drilled into the earth (much like

when drilling for oil) until a significant

geothermal hot spot is found.

• When the heat source has been

discovered, a pipe is attached deep

down inside the hole which allows hot

steam from deep within the earth’s

crust to rise up to the surface.

• The pressurized steam is then channelled

into a turbine which begins to turn under

the large force of the steam. This turbine

is linked to the generator and so the

generator also begins to turn, generating

electricity. We then pump cold water down

a new pipe which is heated by the earth

and then sent back up the first pipe to

repeat the process.

• In the Philippines, geothermal power plants are used to generate electricity in Tiwi, Albay; Kidapawan, North Cotabato; Calacan, Laguna; Tongonan, Leyte and Bacon Sorsogon. The picture on the right shows BACMAN Geothermal Power Plant in the Bicol Region.

Video on how geothermal

energy works

http://youtu.be/Bl-oxDZDfqI

GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS

• In geothermal heat pump, the pump is installed on

a concrete pad above ground, close to the home.

Holes are drilled through the earth for dozens or

hundreds of feet. The depth depends on the

location of geothermal energy pockets in your

region. Two sets of piping are connected to the

pump and fed underground. The pump pushes

cool surface water down through the pipes. As it

passes through the energy pockets, it is heated

and returned to the surface. The heat pump uses

an electric heat exchange unit to transform the hot

water into hot air, which is used to heat the home.

Video on how geothermal

heat pump works

http://youtu.be/KE3SvNRmwcQ

Suggested Videos

• Mexus Education Pvt. Ltd.,: Geothermal Energy (it

shows the production of geothermal energy through the

presentation of the parts of the Earth. It also shows the

origin and the uses of geothermal energy)

http://youtu.be/yrYEgJhLVNQ

• EDC’s Geothermal Power Plant (It presents the world’s

largest geothermal power plant found in the Philippines.

Most effective for Filipino students to develop

nationalism and pride to our country as well as showing

how a power plant works)

http://youtu.be/yrYEgJhLVNQ

Additional References/

Articles:

• http://www.clean-energy-

ideas.com/geothermal/geothermal-

power/geothermal-power-plant

• http://www.ehow.com/how-

does_4966724_geothermal-heat-

pumps-work.html