The Energy Construct cost-effectively. The author concludes that wind energy has the greatest potential for near-term expansion. However, smaller-scale use of solar, geothermal, biomass, and ocean sources along with current hydroelectric sources could add up to make a significant contribution. The advantages and disadvantages of each renewable energy option are examined. Nuclear energy is also supported by the author as the only way to produce large amounts of emission-free power. The author pays close attention to the safety of nuclear energy and provides a unique comparison of the safety of energy generation from a number of sources. Fossil energy is then examined with
Hot dry rock geothermal energy hydrothermal energy production can only exploit hot fluids already in place in the earth’s crust, an HDR system (consisting of the pressurized HDR reservoir, the boreholes drilled from the surface, and the surface injection pumps and associated plumbing) recovers the earth’s heat from hot but dry regions via the closed-loop circulation of pressurized fluid. This fluid, injected from the surface under high pressure, opens pre-existing joints in the basement rock, creating a man-made reservoir which can be as much as a cubic kilometer in size. The fluid injected into the reservoir absorbs thermal energy from the high-temperature rock surfaces and