Geothermal

Geothermal energy is an enormous, underused heat and power resource that is emits very little greenhouse gas, provides reliable energy, and is fully homegrown, helping to makeus less dependent on foreign oil.

Geothermal resources range from shallow ground to hot water and rock several miles below the Earth's surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma. In some places—most famously Yellowstone National Park—geothermal activity occurs at the earth’s crust, and the ability to tap these sources for utility-scale power is viable. But almost everywhere, the upper 10 feet of Earth's surface maintains a nearly constant temperature between 50 and 60°F, making residential and commercial-scale geothermal a possibility for anyone.

Geothermal heat pumps produce energy savings of up to 40% while using energy that is 70% clean.

Geothermal Power Plants are built on technologies that drill into rock up to 5 kilometers deep, creating reservoirs for water to be heated by the activity in the rock. This activity is widespread around the United States but is most viable in the West. The installed domestic capacity of geothermal power plants is nearly 3,000 megawatts in five western states. These power plants use hot water and steam from hydrothermal reservoirs as their energy source. DOE estimates there are prodigious amounts of heat at depths from 3 to 10 km, and cites it as a key resource for future energy production.

Geothermal heat pumps leverage the consistent temperature of shallow ground to provide heating and cooling for an adjacent structure. These are built on a simple system of looped coils filled with fluid that help to transit heat to and from a heat pump that regulates indoor temperature.

How it Works

A geothermal heat pump system consists of pipes buried in the shallow ground near the building, a heat exchanger, and ductwork into the building. In winter, heat from the relatively warmer ground goes through the heat exchanger into the house. In summer, hot air from the house is pulled through the heat exchanger into the relatively cooler ground. Heat removed during the summer can be used as no-cost energy to heat water.

They may be used in combination with solar photovoltaic systems to form geosolar systems, further reducing the electricity demand of a household.

Geothermal Energy in Maryland

Geothermal power plants are not currently viable in Maryland. The Western US, Alaska, and Hawaii are the literal “hot spots” for utility scale geothermal energy. In Maryland, the geothermal heat pump for residential and commercial heating, cooling, and hot water is the common application of geothermal – or more specifically – “ground source” energy.

Geothermal heat pump systems are viable in just about any location in the state and can provide a consistent, reliable, and largely clean source of energy for residents.

Augmenting power consumption with wind power would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants such as mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

• Studies show that approximately 70 percent of the energy used in a geothermal heat pump system is renewable energy from the ground.

Geothermal heat pumps can dramatically reduce Maryland’s energy costs

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that geothermal heat pumps can lower energy bills by 30-40%.

Increased demand for geothermal system will create new jobs for Maryland

• Geothermal installations require professionals to help design and install the system, as well as contractors who can do the labor required to install the loops and the pump equipment. It can also create new business opportunities for HVAC companies.