Geothermal Energy Purification

Concerns About Fracking and Land Use

Texas recently posed a controversial question to lawmakers and energy officials. Is fracking ethical if its goal is to capitalize on geothermal resources? Environmental values ​​run through the logic, but omissions remain.

Even as corporations use existing machinery and land in oil fields to reduce the need for new plants and equipment production, concerns about seismic activity and pollution remain. Experts leading the project suggest that geothermal extraction would cost between 20% and 43% less using fracking technology. The numbers are enticing. But for geothermal energy to remain earth-friendly, policymakers must resist giving in to temptation.

Land-use debates have surrounded geothermal adoption for decades. The plants are vast, with intensive cooling systems and extensive pipeline networks stretching for miles. Unless developers upgrade the infrastructure of defunct plants, habitat destruction and land-use conflicts are inevitable.

Water extraction from underground reservoirs disrupts structural integrity, leading to subsidence or sinking of the ground. Continuous drilling and construction increases the risk of earthquakes, putting nearby cities at risk.

Air emissions

Geothermal power plants are much healthier for the air than fossil fuels. They produce 97% less sulfur compounds that cause acid rain and 99% less carbon dioxide. In addition, closed-loop systems better reduce the likelihood of nature being exposed to pollution.

However, geothermal devices can still release heavy metals into the environment, such as chlorides, nickel, and mercury. Open-loop systems expose the air to many other pollutants, including:

• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Hydrogen sulphide
• Ammonia
• Boron

Although the damage is less than with fossil fuels, the publicity and impact remain. Experts must find ways to reduce these emissions if open systems continue to operate. Modern researchers propose integrating direct air carbon capture (DACC) machines. DACC tools can be expensive, but studies show they are effective in isolating geothermal pollutants.

Advanced tower internals also improve contaminant removal efficiency. Filling and expanding the internal surface area allows peripheral devices, such as scrubbers and strippers, to remove contaminants more effectively. These tools come into contact with more liquids and gases moving through the structure, increasing efficiency.

Water Quality Compromises

Geothermal power plants attempt to mitigate water losses and restore aquifers through reinjection. However, supplies are still being depleted due to steam losses during production. Corporations are replacing lost water with external resources, increasing the risk of contamination. This could exacerbate water shortages in regions dependent on reservoirs, especially since quality treatment is not consistently available or effective worldwide.

Metal and gaseous pollutants are released into the air, eventually into the water. A study of the Puna geothermal systems in Hawaii reveals negative side effects. Brine and steam have affected freshwater conditions and the quality of plant and fish life. Animals living in the area are also at risk.

Discoveries like this are what geothermal experts need to investigate. The region’s condition has prompted new research and quality initiatives to increase credibility and transparency. Similar projects will follow suit around the world to clean up geothermal’s reputation. This is especially critical in vulnerable, indigenous or disadvantaged regions that rely on minimal access to reservoirs or water treatment technologies.

Improving Geothermal Energy’s Reputation

No power generator is problem-free, even in the renewables sector. Breaking the link with fracking, cleaning up water and reducing air pollution are key to profitable progress. Geothermal is entering the mainstream as the federal government provides tax breaks and incentives. Experts need to fix the kinks before enthusiastic expansion makes them too difficult to fix.