What is geothermal energy

Humans began to use geothermal energy long ago, such as the use of hot spring baths, medical care, the use of underground hot water for heating, the construction of crop greenhouses, aquaculture and dried grains. However, the real understanding of geothermal resources and the large-scale development and utilization of it began in the middle of the 20th century. The use of geothermal energy can be divided into geothermal power generation and direct use of two major categories. Geothermal energy is renewable heat energy from deep in the earth. It originated from the decay of the Earth's molten magma and radioactive material. Geothermal energy means that its reserves are many times larger than the total amount currently used by people, and they are concentrated in the vicinity of the edge of the tectonic plate, which is also a volcanic and earthquake-prone zone. If the speed of heat extraction does not exceed the speed of the supplement, then geothermal energy is renewable. Geothermal energy is widely used in many parts of the world. It is estimated that the annual thermal energy transmitted from the interior of the Earth to the ground is equivalent to 100 PW·h. However, the distribution of geothermal energy is relatively scattered and difficult to develop.