Copy this CollectionBeneath the surface of the earth is an energy source, geothermal, that could provide 39 countries with all of their electricity needs. Geothermal power is generated through the piping of underground water and steam reservoirs to the surface in order to power turbines that produce electricity. This type of energy is attractive because it is a free heat source, and it is bountiful, and reliable. According to the Project Drawdown's calculations, geothermal growth from now until 2050 will result in the reduction of CO2 emissions by 16.6 gigatons (1 gigaton is equal to 1 billion tons).
Several cities and countries have discovered that geothermal energy has the potential to provide significant energy capacity in a completely sustainable way. Two stories in this collection (see below) feature Iceland, where geothermal energy heats pools that define their communities, and geothermal power plants turn CO2 into a solid to stop it from entering into the atmosphere. Kenya has also experienced success in harnessing geothermal energy, and it was able to supply almost half of the country's energy needs in 2015. Another story addresses new technology from a Swedish company that can harness geothermal energy more efficiently and could make it economically viable for the world. This solution is one of the Drawdown Ecochallenge actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
