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Thermal Energy

Thermal energy is a difficult source of energy to harness but it is one of the most consistent and available. Deep under the crust are incredibly hot flows of molten rock and metal that can be used to heat water and generate electricity.

Thermal energy is harnessed by transferring the high heat into boiling water whose vapor expands quick enough to be a suitable way of turning a turbine to generate power. There are also thermal vents that can be used to turn a turbine, but the gases are so noxious and corrosive that the rotors have to be coated in gold to last for longer than a year.

Thermal energy is another renewable resource that is widely unused and could provide a number of different power options for people around the world. The explosion of a volcano is a good example of what thermal energy can do. Unfortunately that power is one of the most difficult to harness.

 

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