Geotermial

Geotermial is a term used to describe an integrated framework for exploring, assessing, and using thermal energy stored in the Earth’s crust. It combines geology, hydrology, and engineering to plan and operate subsurface heat systems with attention to sustainability and lifecycle management.

Resource assessment focuses on temperature gradients, rock permeability, and recharge rates to determine sustainable extraction. Reinjection of used fluids or closed-loop designs protect aquifers and surface ecosystems. Data sharing and modeling support site selection and optimization.

Core technologies include conventional hydrothermal systems, enhanced geothermal systems that increase permeability, and thermal storage methods such as borehole storage or aquifer storage. Building-scale applications use ground-source heat pumps linked to larger networks, enabling efficient heating, cooling, and power generation where feasible.

Applications cover district heating and cooling, electricity generation in suitable geologies, and industrial process heat. Environmental and social considerations include seismic risk, groundwater protection, land use, and fair access. Economics depend on upfront costs, resource characterization, and regulatory pathways.

Geotermial research is interdisciplinary, spanning geology, engineering, and environmental science, and focuses on safer, cheaper deployment, better data, and standardized monitoring and reporting.