Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy: A Symposium. January 31- February 2, 1978, San Diego, California; CONF-780133

[2], iv, 145 pages, [1]. Oversized book, measuring 11 inches by 8-1/2 inches. Twenty-five papers were presented at this symposium. Topics presented included Geothermal Energy and the Food Industry, South Louisiana; Selected Alaska Geothermal Spring Sources as Possible Salmon Hatchery Sites; Agribusiness Geothermal Energy Utilization Potential of Klamath and Snake River Basins, Oregon; Uses of Geothermal Heat for Sugar Refining; The Geothermal Loan Guaranty Program; Overview of the D.O.E. Direct Use Program for Geothermal Energy; and The Future of Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy. The Geothermal Resources Council is an international non-profit association of professionals in the field of geothermal energy. It is based in Davis, California. It was founded in Olympia in Washington state in May 1971, and its first conference was held in El Centro, California, in February 1972. It was incorporated in June of that year. Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. The geothermal energy of the Earth's crust originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of materials (in currently uncertain but possibly roughly equal proportions). The geothermal gradient, which is the difference in temperature between the core of the planet and its surface, drives a continuous conduction of thermal energy in the form of heat from the core to the surface. The adjective geothermal originates from the Greek roots (geo), meaning earth, and (thermos), meaning hot. Earth's internal heat is thermal energy generated from radioactive decay and continual heat loss from Earth's formation. Temperatures at the core-mantle boundary may reach over 4000 °C (7,200 °F). The high temperature and pressure in Earth's interior cause some rock to melt and solid mantle to behave plastically, resulting in portions of the mantle convecting upward since it is lighter than the surrounding rock. Rock and water is heated in the crust, sometimes up to 370 °C (700 °F). With water from hot springs, geothermal energy has been used for bathing since Paleolithic times and for space heating since ancient Roman times, but it is now better known for electricity generation. Worldwide, 11,700 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power was available in 2013.[6] An additional 28 gigawatts of direct geothermal heating capacity is installed for district heating, space heating, spas, industrial processes, desalination and agricultural applications as of 2010. Geothermal power is cost-effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.…