Mining The Earth S Heat Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy

Mining the Earth's Heat: Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy describes the work carried out by the Los Alamos National Laboratory to turn an idealistic concept - that of drawing useful amounts of energy from the vast underground store of hot rock at reachable depths - into a practical reality. This book provides comprehensive documentation of the over two decades of experiments carried out at the test site at Fenton Hill, New Mexico, where the feasibility of accessing and extracting this vast natural resource was finally demonstrated. It also discusses the numerous technical, administrative, and financial hurdles that had to be overcome along the way. This publication will no doubt prove invaluable to researchers around the world as they strive to move this now-proven technology toward commercial viability. In addition, it is a valuable source of relevant information for anyone interested in the world energy outlook for the 21st century and beyond.

Describes the potential for geothermal energy, the naturally occurring heat within the Earth. Summarizes information related to developing geothermal energy while minimizing its environmental impact. Discusses its versatility; it can be used in the generation of electricity, as well as direct use applications, such as space heating and industrial processes. Contains color photos, charts, and diagrams.

Explains how the Earth produces heat that can be used at the surface, describes how people have used this geothermal heat over the years, and discusses it as a possible source of renewable energy.