Geothermalenergy

Vs.Nuclear energy
BY:RYAN CREEK AND JACKSONKINCAID
What is Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear power uses uranium tofuel the process
Energy is released from uranium when an
atomis split by a neutron
The atom is split intwo, and radiation/heat is
released (fissionprocess)
What is GeothermalEnergy?
Involcanic areas,there are several types of
rockthatcontain radioactiveuranium
This creates heat which combinedwith ground
waterwillheat upand cause steam to
naturallyrise
Thesteamrises due topressure and
usedtodrive turbinesto createelectricity
Safety
NUCLEARENERGY GEOTHERMAL
Highlytrainedinspectorsalwaysmonitoring Trenches cancollapse(installingpipes)

RadiationProtection(limits) Workers exposed to silica when excavating

ScreeningTestsforEmployees
WearProtectiveGear
CyberSecurity
ElectricalHazards(waterpumps)
NuclearProtection
Welding(burnsandUV rays)

Falling
Impact onsociety:
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY NUCLEARENERGY
Geothermal is locally produced, reducingforeignoilimports and boosting rural Changed employmentratesfor thebetter
economies.
Healthconcerns regarding radioactivity andpollution.
Sincegeothermal energy is domestic, it helps offset involvement in
foreignenergyaffairs.
Concerns forreactor safetyand integrity insurrounding areas
More jobscanhelppeople and thestate
Cost
NUCLEAR GEOTHERMAL
A50MWgeothermalbinaryplant is$92per(MWh)
Totalsystemcostis$108per 50 MW dualflashgeothermalplant is$88per(MWh)
megawatt hour(MWh) Softcosts

Overnightcost Landcosts

Rawmaterialcosts

Financingcosts
Constructiontime
Reliability
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY NUCLEARENERGY
It isa very abundant source because of its availabilityto bere-used.
Nuclear energy isthemost reliablesourceoflarge-scale around the
Itis always operational andaccidentsrarely occur.
clockelectricity.

It does not requireexpensivecomplex engineerstructures. Fairly cheap energy. Businesses have the ability to keep their lights and heat on during
periods of extreme weather
As a wholethis meansthis energyis very reliablebeing that the onlyfault ismany
locationschallenge the primegeography.
EnvironmentalImpact
NUCLEAR GEOTHERMAL

Requireslarge area of land Closedloopsystems (gasfrom

near water well)
ClearingofForests Openloopsystems
emithydrogensulfide,Carbon
Decreaseinfishpopulation dioxide,Ammonia, Methane,
Increaseofsulfurdioxide(acid andBoron
rain) Landsubsidence
Hot spots
Waste management
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY NUCLEAR ENERGY
Geothermalenergyplantsproduce noappreciablesolid waste, though the Intermediate(7% by volume) (4% by radioactive content) and low-
uniquecharacteristicsof some geothermalfluidsrequire specialhandlingofsolid levelwaste (90% by volume) (1%by radioactive content) are disposed
byproducts.
ofcloser to the surface, in many established repertories.
These solid by products often containvaluablemineralsthat can be recovered and
recycledfor other industrialuses. Thecategorization-high, intermediate, low, helpsdetermine how waste
are treated and where they go.
PrioritizationandRecommendati
on
Based onthesescientific facts, we
believethatEnvironmentalImpactis themost
importantbecausewe want to keep the environment
cleanandnothazardousto thosesurroundingthe plant.

While both are efficient,

werecommendGeothermalenergy is a
reliable,generallysafe, produces littleenvironmental
impact, and hardly any waste.
Sources
https://kentuckypower.com/info/

https://www.osha.gov/dep/greenjobs/geothermal.html

http://www.nuclearpowerprocon.org/pop/geothermal.htm

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/geothermal-energy/tech.
html