RENEWABLES
In an article published this July , The New York Times called geothermal energy “ the forgotten renewable .”
The article points to a report out from the Geothermal Enregy Association that examines the geothermal situation both in the U . S . and abroad . Ultimately , the report concluded that while the U . S . is lagging on harnessing geothermal energy , the international market is “ booming .” It reports that more than 700 geothermal projects are underway in 76 countries .
16 of those projects are underway in the small island nation of Iceland , a pioneer in the use of geothermal energy . The idyllic country is known for its vast mountains and glaciers , is also known for its extremely
‘ The idyllic country is known for its vast mountains and glaciers , is also known for its extremely active geothermal profile ’ active geothermal profile .
Iceland has found a way to harness the power of the earth , with nearly 25 percent of the country ’ s total electricity generation coming from geothermal . What places Iceland in a prime position to utilize geothermal energy , what are they doing currently , and what are their plans for the future ?
Location , Location , Location Much of Iceland ’ s relationship with geothermal energy comes down to one factor : location . Iceland is , geologically , a very young country . Straddling the Mid-Atlantic ridge , one of the Earth ’ s major fault lines , Iceland is one of the few countries where one can see the active spreading of the ridge above sea level . The two tectonic plates — the North American and Eurasian plates — move apart at a rate of about 2 cm per year .
In general , Iceland is active tectonically . Iceland also more than 200 volcanoes and 30 of them have erupted since the country was initially settled . Iceland is also frequently hit with Earthquakes , though never suffers any substantial damage from them . The country is littered with geothermal hotspots ,
26 September 2014