'Geothermal+Power+Technologies'+Review

__Geothermal Power Technologies: A Review__ Geothermal technology is an energy source that has yet to be extensively explored by many countries. In their dossier, Group Y gave a good overview of this technology and presented several arguments for why it would be sustainable in Canada. We (group W) would like to share our thoughts on the dossier, the lab designed by Group Y, and geothermal technology as a feasible source of energy. Group Y's dossier was informative and easy to read. It had a well-written introduction that clearly outlined the basics of geothermal energy. There were a few minor grammatical errors, and the word choice was often a bit odd. For example, the first paragraph states ...there is evidence of some (heat) seeping out in volcanic features... This implies that there is some doubt about this fact, when we all know that volcanoes do indeed expel heat. More consideration could have been given to how sentences sound. Transitions between paragraphs were smooth, however, and facts were presented in a logical order. The methods used to harness geothermal energy were explained in a clear and detailed manner. The pictures made it much easier to understand flash and binary geothermal. Descriptions of environmental requirements both concise and thorough, but could have included details about the dangers associated with ideal locations for geothermal plants (such as earthquakes). You could also have talked about how exactly the hot water is recycled once its energy has been harvested. Some of the information presented was a bit unclear. Although it was directly referred to, 'operating capacity' was never defined. Without knowing what this term meant, the comparison between geothermal's operating capacity and that of other energy technologies carried little meaning. The dossier also didn't say anything about how deep you have to drill in order to extract geothermal energy. Details like these would help to better assess the technology. The environmental effects of geothermal technology could have been made a bit clearer as well. The dossier first stated that there were no negative environmental effects, but later claimed that noxious fumes and solid waste are generated in the extraction process. This was slightly confusing. The conclusion was a bit short. A brief reiteration of why geothermal energy is clean, reliable and sustainable would have helped to make the final paragraph less abrupt. It was also not necessary to begin the paragraph with In conclusion. That being said, the conclusion did summarize the basic ideas of the dossier, and clearly stated the group's opinion of the energy technology. The geothermal energy lab was easily completed within the two hour time period. Studying Yellowstone National Park was interesting, and the discussion at the end of the lab was particularly stimulating. It addressed valid and controversial questions, and brought up some good points. It was, however, unclear whether we were supposed to address the questions ourselves or just read the discussion about them. A clear heading would have solved this problem. Some of the links in the lab were broken, which made it a little difficult to find the proper information. These could have been tested before submitting the protocol. The video was a unique way to introduce the lab, but the lab itself was somewhat unimaginative. While the direct questions were very effective in guiding our learning, they did not leave much room for thinking creatively. The lab might have been more engaging if some of the questions encouraged us to brainstorm our own ideas about the issue of using Yellowstone as a source of geothermal energy. A greater variety of resources could also have been provided to show different perspectives on Yellowstone. Also, it seemed redundant to direct us to the same link four times in a row. One statement telling us to use that link for all four questions would have been sufficient. Overall, the lab helped us to establish a basic idea of how geothermal energy works, and how its use would affect the environment around it. In terms of geothermal energy itself, we agree that Canada should be conducting more research on it. It seems to be perfectly sustainable, so long as sources are not depleted through overuse. Environmental effects energy extraction are fairly minimal compared to other energy technologies. There are few waste products, and water can be re-injected into the ground after the thermal energy has been harvested from it. While drilling is a big initial expense, the geothermal plants will eventually pay off and maintenance costs are low. Canada should be investigating the possibility of setting up plants near the Pacific Ring of Fire. This is a big source of geothermal energy, and Canada is conveniently located right beside it. More funding and research should definitely be put towards geothermal energy in Canada. Overall, we found group Y's dossier to be clearly written and easy to follow. It was very informative and provided us with a good understanding of geothermal energy. The lab could have been more creative, but certainly served its purpose. Geothermal energy technology seems like a good candidate for future development.