Geothermal Energy: A Key Component in the Diversified Portfolio of Renewable Energy Solutions?

How Do Geothermal Technologies Work? What Are Their Applications? An In-depth Analysis of Current Operations, Emerging Innovations, and Their Potential Impact.

n the context of the global movement towards clean energy, pivotal for realizing the objectives of the Paris Agreement, geothermal energy emerges as a key component in the diversified portfolio of renewable energy solutions.

This shift, aimed at curbing global average temperature rise to less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, necessitates the integration of various renewable sources like solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, ocean energy, and notably, geothermal energy.

Despite its current modest contribution of about 0.5% to the global renewable energy capacity, geothermal power presents an extraordinary opportunity. Its capacity for continuous, reliable electricity and heat production, coupled with a small ecological footprint and low greenhouse gas emissions, positions it as a sustainable and efficient energy source.

Globally, the demand for sustainable heat is rising alongside the urgency to mitigate climate change. This demand is driving the expansion of geothermal energy applications beyond traditional electricity generation to encompass heating and cooling.

The Earth's crust harbors a colossal amount of thermal energy, estimated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at about