Geothermal Energy Short Paper

  I finished my degree in Sociology with a minor in History, and since I work at a University that will let me receive more education for free, I have decided to pursue a new degree in Information Technology. I am currently taking an entry-level tech class where I am exploring different types of technology and how it interacts with various fields, environments, and workplaces. This course is surprisingly heavy when it comes to shorter papers (2-5 pages), and so I will be uploading new content to this blog that will have a technology vibe to it. 

Geothermal Energy is heat that comes from the Earth’s interior. This heat originates from the formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals deep within the Earth. Deep underground, the Earth’s core heats the surrounding rock, and water creates a heat source. Wells are drilled to bring hot water or steam to the surface which can then be turned into energy. The water or steam can be turned into electricity by having a turbine connected to a generator that will spin. The hot water can also be directly used to heat buildings, greenhouses, or industrial processes. (U.S. Department of Energy)

Geothermal Energy is renewable and sustainable as the Earth continuously produces heat making this a virtually inexhaustible energy if managed properly. Geothermal plants, where the steam or water is transformed into electricity or energy, emit very little greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuel plants. Geothermal Energy is very reliable and consistent as it is available 24/7 regardless of the time of day or season of the year. Other renewable energy sources such as wind or solar can’t say this. Using geothermal energy will make dependence on imported fuels less necessary as we can use local resources for all our needs. (U.S. Geological Survey, 2025)

There are some restrictions when it comes to geothermal energy as you can only place a geothermal site near tectonic plate boundaries or volcanic activity for it to work well. (Center for Sustainable Systems, 2023) You need to drill deep wells and build a plant to extract the water or steam, which can be a pricey investment upfront. (Akindipe, 2025) If the plant is not maintained correctly, the geothermal reservoir could cool down or lose pressure over time which may reduce its energy output. Some geothermal systems require a lot of water for cooling and reinjection, which can be a concern if the plant is in an arid area. (Energy & Geoscience Institute)

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems (CLGS) are making it possible for geothermal plants to be in areas previously considered unsuitable. In the last 10 years, the amount of electricity made from geothermal energy has increased by about 40% which means more countries are building geothermal plants and using the Earth’s heat to make electricity. Geothermal plants are more reliable than solar and wind which adds to grid stability which is probably why more countries are implementing this as an alternative to solar and wind which only work when the sun is shining or when it is windy. (Exergy, 2024) Governments and companies are starting to pay more attention to geothermal energy. They are making new rules and programs to make it easier and safer to build geothermal plants. Investors are also putting more money into geothermal projects because they see it as a smart, long-term energy solution. Oil companies already know how to drill deep into the Earth to get fossil fuel. Advanced drilling and underground mapping techniques are now being used for geothermal energy as well. This helps lower the cost and makes it easier to find this renewable source of heat underground. (International Energy Agency, 2024)

As geothermal energy grows, there will be more jobs in engineering, geology, environmental science, and renewable energy policy. Companies will want to invest in geothermal to reduce energy costs, meet green energy goals, or qualify for government incentives. Professors in the tech and science fields might focus on developing new geothermal technologies or improving existing systems. (Center for Sustainable Systems)

Drilling into the ground can disrupt the underground ecosystem and affect water quality if not done carefully. It is important that geothermal plants be built in areas where they will not disrupt nature and those living close by. (Clark, 2012) Wealthier countries will have more resources to develop geothermal energy, while poorer nations may struggle to afford it. (Hadhazy, 2025)

    UVU uses a geothermal system to heat and cool many of its buildings and has been doing so for over 40 years. UVU sits above a large underground aquifer that stays at a constant temperature year-round regardless of the weather outside. They pump water from the aquifer and run it through a system that either absorbs heat (for cooling) or releases heat (for warming). After the water is used, it is returned to the aquifer so there is no net loss of water, and no pollution is introduced. This is called an open-loop geothermal heat exchange, and it helps UVU reduce its use of natural gas and electricity. I was given a tour last week of the new engineering building that is almost complete on campus. This building is completely heated and cooled by the aquifer and uses other amazing renewable energy sources as well. (Utah Valley University) 

    There are quite a lot of geothermal systems in place in Utah from wells and springs with temperatures ranging from warm water to as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The former State Prison and the Hi-Tech Fishery in Bluffdale are some examples. Utah is also home to three geothermal power plants. The Blundell Geothermal Power Plant is in Beaver County and receives its energy from the Roosevelt Hot Springs area. The Cove Fort Geothermal Power Plant is also located in Beaver County and was the first geothermal plant 

in the world to combine geothermal and hydropower technologies. It uses a submersible downhole generator in the injection well that captures energy from the water as it flows back into the Earth which reduces the wear and tear on the equipment, generates extra electricity, and improves efficiency. (Enel Green Power, 2016) The third geothermal plant is also in Beaver County and contributes to Utah’s goal to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. (Utah Division of Water Rights, 2024)

Resources:

Akindipe, O. (2025). 2025 geothermal drilling cost curves update. Stanford Geothermal Workshop. https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/GeoConf/papers/SGW/2025/Akindipe.pdf

Center for Sustainable Systems. (2023). Geothermal energy factsheet. University of Michigan. https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/energy/geothermal-energy-factsheet

Clark, C., Sullivan, J., Harto, C., Han, J., & Wang, M. (2012). Life cycle environmental impacts of geothermal systems. Argonne National Laboratory. https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/pdf/IGAstandard/SGW/2012/Clark.pdf

Enel Green Power. (2016, December 20). Cove Fort: The new geothermal frontier. https://www.enelgreenpower.com/stories/articles/2016/12/cove-fort-the-new-geothermal-frontier

Energy & Geoscience Institute. (n.d.). Water usage concerns in geothermal operations. University of Utah. https://geothermal.egi.utah.edu/research/water-usage-concerns/

Exergy. (2024, February 6). The future of geothermal energy: Insights and key takeaways from latest IEA report. Exergy. https://www.exergy-orc.com/the-future-of-geothermal-energy-insights-and-key-takeaways-from-latest-iea-report/

Hadhazy, A. (2025, February 21). The future of geothermal for reliable clean energy. Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. https://sustainability.stanford.edu/news/future-geothermal-reliable-clean-energy

International Energy Agency. (2024, December). The future of geothermal energy. https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-geothermal-energy

U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Geothermal basics. https://www.energy.gov/eere/geothermal/geothermal-basics

U.S. Geological Survey. (2025, July 7). It’s a hot topic: Geothermal energy, and how USGS science could help harness it. https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/its-a-hot-topic-geothermal-energy-and-how-usgs-science-could-help-harness-it

Utah Division of Water Rights. (2024, May). Geothermal activity in Utah. https://waterrights.utah.gov/geothermal/resources/Utah-Geothermal-Activity.pdf

Utah Geological Survey. (n.d.). Geothermal resources. https://geology.utah.gov/energy-minerals/geothermal/

Utah Valley University. (n.d.). Energy. UVU Sustainability. https://www.uvu.edu/sustainability/doing/energy.html

aB . All Rights Reserved . 2025