Question

How long will geothermal energy last? Is it possible for it to run out if so when?

Answer 1

Hint : Geothermal energy is a form of thermal energy, which is generated as well as stored in the earth. It is originally obtained from the initial originates of the earth’s crust and due to radioactive decay of the materials. Since it is not an entirely renewable source of energy, it is likely to run out.

Complete Step-By-Step Solution:
As it can be inferred from the term geothermal, we know, the term ‘geo’ means Earth and the term ‘thermal’ implies heat. Therefore, the form of energy obtained from the earth is known as geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy is extracted by setting up geothermal power plants and the enormous heat inside the earth is used to generate steam and hence turn the turbines to generate electricity. Other forms of energy can also be obtained.
Geothermal energy uses the heat of the earth hence is majorly considered to be a renewable source of energy as the planet has retained a huge amount of heat during its formation, however, it is expected that in some point of time, this production of energy will no longer be feasible if the earth ceases to exist.
Thus, we cannot say it is entirely renewable.
We may run out of geothermal energy in about five billion years because at that time probably earth will no longer exist.

Note:
Despite being one of the convenient sources of renewable energy, geothermal energy brings in a number of disadvantages, these include environmental hazards and increases the greenhouse emission also the investment for land to extract geothermal energy is very high.