In Humanity’s ongoing mission to develop new “Green” technologies as a means to reduce our footprint on this planet, it might seem strange that we should find the key to progress in a phenomenon that has always existed. Thermal Energy has existed since time immemorial, and we’ve known about it for centuries, but only recently have we discovered way to use it towards a greener, healthier way of life.

But what is Thermal Energy?

THERMAL ENERGY IN A NUTSHELL

In complicated terms, Thermal Energy is known as the part of the total, internal energy of a thermodynamic system, or sample of matter that results in the system’s temperature. In laymen’s terms, however, Thermal Energy is energy that results from matter interacts with matter.

Observing an automobile can be an excellent example of this. When a car is sitting in a driveway (and is not running) it has what is known as Potential Energy – the machine has every ingredient necessary to create thermal energy, but has not been given the chance to produce it. Once a person starts the ignition the car now has Kinetic Energy, which allows it to operate, as one would expect.

A car creates Thermal Energy as it runs, which is what causes the engine and other internal systems to create heat. Matter is interacting with matter at a fast pace, and this friction creates heat.

ON MATTER, LIVING FORCE, AND HEAT

In 1847, James Prescott Joule introduced Thermal Energy to the scientific community with his lecture On Matter, Living Force, and Heat. In the lecture Joule characterized the terms Latent Heat and Sensible Heat as components of heat. Each component, he revealed, effected distinct physical phenomena known as Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy, respectively.

Joule had introduced the world to Thermal Energy, though he called it by the somewhat ambivalent moniker Living Force.

THE POTENTIAL OF THERMAL ENERGY

Scientists and engineers have been looking to Thermal Energy to find ways to foster the world’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems so that, one day, humans can reduce our energy footprint for the good of the environment. So far they have created items that are in use every day, sometimes in surprising corners of the world.

Notable Thermal Energy systems include Solar Panels and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion hubs.

Thermal energy is the result of energy that is made from the movement of atoms and molecules in matter. It is generated and measured by heat, and is used as an energy source to power electricity through the transference of heat from one object to another cooler object. There are different types of thermal energy, and one of the advantages that they all have in common is that they produce continuous energy and are not affected by the weather. Energy sources such as wind power are dependent upon certain weather conditions for them to work.

Coal

Although coal is not a clean source of energy and is non-renewable, it is a relatively cheap source and can be found in many places. The problem with it being non-renewable is that once the coal supply is gone, it is gone for good. As the commodity disappears and becomes less common to find, the price will inevitably increase and there will have to be other sources of energy for society to rely on.

Natural Gas

Like coal, natural gas sources are non-renewable. However, it produces less pollution and provides more electricity, which means that it is a better alternative to coal. Once the gas is burned, it does burn off CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which is a downfall of this source.

Solar

The sun is the biggest and most reliable source of thermal energy. It is renewable and produces virtually no pollution. One of the disadvantages is that it cannot be accessed during the night, although scientists are continuously working on this weakness.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy uses the heat from the layer of Earth beneath the crust that is comprised of magma and produces heat. This heat is used to produce energy so the reliance on fossil fuels and coals decreases, especially as these non-renewable sources run out. One of the biggest advantages to using geothermal energy is that it is renewable and does not destroy the Earth. Another advantage is its availability. The hottest underground places are in locations with volcanic activity, but heat can be found anywhere underground.

With the increasing need for renewable resources due to global warming and the excessive emissions of CO2, electricity needs a way to be more efficient. By using renewable resources such as wind power and ocean thermal energy, carbon emissions are lessening, and will continue to decrease as more research is done to improve upon the sources. With thermal energy storage, energy costs can be cut while also decreasing the size of cooling systems, which saves a lot of energy.

Usage

Thermal energy storage is used for air condition systems. Air conditioning uses a refrigeration system in order to cool inside air. There is a system that carries the hot air out of the house. This hot air is cooled by evaporator coils (the coils have a coolant that allows for them to absorb heat) and then is put back into the house through vents. This process keeps the air at a comfortable temperature that is controlled by the owner of the system.

How it Works

Thermal energy storage involves cooling a storage system and then using that system to cool the air at a later point in time when the air condition system would be at its highest peak. The temperature in the storage system can be set higher or lower than the surrounding air temperature. Instead of the air conditioner being at the highest setting and using all of the energy to stabilize temperature, this storage facility is used. This type of system is ideal for large buildings that have a high utility usage, such as offices or hospitals.

Benefits

Two of the main reasons to install this storage system are: decreasing initial system costs as well as decreasing operation costs. Initial system costs can be cut because the system will be able to be smaller, and the pipes will also be smaller. In the future, the owner can look forward to not having to pay high peak hour prices to cool the building. These storage systems are also better for the environment; they decrease the need for the usage of power plants while also reducing emissions.

Downfalls

There are quite a few disadvantages, mostly having to do with cost. The materials that are used in the plants to make these systems are fairly expensive. However, improvements in technology are working to decrease these costs. In addition, the manufacturing process is expensive because the shape of the systems is very precise and particular, and experts need to be involved in the process.

With the increasing amount of energy that is needed to operate everything in society's daily lives, there is a need for multiple sources of energy. For example, the price of coal is increasing, and is not exactly environmentally efficient or friendly. It is also a commodity that society needs to be less reliant on. Ocean thermal energy is a renewable source that works in a way that uses the thermal energy that the ocean naturally receives from the sun and converts it into energy that can be used for electric power.

History

This energy source is not a completely new idea. In fact, in 1881, Jacques Arsene d’Arsonval was a physicist who first proposed the idea of tapping energy from the ocean. Since then, scientists have been creating systems and plants that have been able to efficiently convert ocean energy into electric energy.

How it All Works

Oceans have layers of water, with the surface layer being warm due to being heated by the sun, and the deepest layer being the coldest. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plants take the water from the surface and put it into a conversion machine to make steam, which is then put through a turbine in order to make electricity. The surface water is hot enough to boil a fluid such as ammonia (which has a low boiling point), and the pressure from the boil creates enough energy to power a turbine and start a generator. The cold water from the ocean is used to cool the gas, and then the water is returned back into the ocean, making OTEC a clean and renewable energy source.

Benefits

Using OTEC is beneficial to the environment as well as society. The earth is made of 70% water, which makes this technology readily available. OTEC plants can produce energy 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year because it is not affected by the weather like other sources such as wind energy. Buildings that are near to the plants can use the ocean’s cold water as an air conditioning source, and the process also produces fresh water for consumption and use. Smaller island countries can use this energy to be self-sufficient and improve their sanitation and nutrition, which also creating clean water.

Downfalls

Although OTEC provides many benefits to society, there are some downfalls. First of all, the locations of the plants are either on land or in the ocean. The land plants can face damage from incoming waves, and there may be an additional expense of construction and maintenance to carry the mixture of warm and cold water after usage for the proper depth for release. Ocean based plants are more difficult to stabilize; the cables that are necessary to keep the plant afloat are very susceptible to damage. In addition, the cost is something that is fairly high. Although there are no fuel costs, the construction and upfront capital are more expensive than other energy sources.

Further Developments

There are quite a few more things that need to be researched and developed before OTEC can become a highly-used source of energy. Appropriate and efficient plants (including sizes and location); improving the efficiency and cost of heat exchangers; and bettering thermal energy extractions are just a few items that are being researched and further developed. Once solutions to these issues have been found, OTEC will become an energy source that society can be dependent upon in the future.

When considering the usage of thermal energy, one need not look at man for its creation. Rather, one need only look to the surface upon which one stands. The Earth has been creating thermal energy since it was created, and we call this Geothermal Energy.

So, knowing this leads us to a few new questions, namely…

WHAT IS GEOTHERMAL ENERGY?

Simply put, Geothermal Energy is a form of thermal energy that is generated and stored within the Earth. The genesis of this kind of energy stems from two direct points, 1) There is the energy that has been around since the formation of the Earth, which accounts for 20% of the total geothermal energy, and 2) there is the energy created by the radioactive decay of minerals, which accounts for the remaining 80% of the total Geothermal Energy.

HOW DOES GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORK?

Much like OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion), Geothermal Energy is driven by a difference in heat. In this case, the “engine” is known as the Geothermal Gradient – the difference between the heat at the Earth’s core, and the heat at its surface. As the two heats merge Geothermal Energy is created. This energy can be most commonly observed by looking at hot springs.

Hot springs, as we all know, are bodies of water on the Earth’s surface that are heated via naturally occurring vents. Through these vents geothermal energy jets into the water, allowing them to stay at a constant, warm temperature. Hot springs have been used for bathing since the Paleolithic Era, and were also used for space heating since the time of the Romans.

These days, however, you’re more likely to find hot springs being used as a means to generate electrical power in countries such as Iceland. In fact, between the 24 countries that employ this method of harnessing energy, nearly 10,715 MW of geothermal electricity is being created. What’s more, there are 28 gigawatts of direct geothermal heating capacity being used for needs such as district heating, space heating, spas, industrial and agricultural processes, and desalination.

PROS AND CONS

Geothermal Energy, like anything else, comes with its own pros and cons. However, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Pros:

• Cost Effective
• Reliable
• Sustainable/Renewable
• Environmentally friendly
• Emits much lower per energy units of greenhouse gasses than fossil fuels

Cons:

• Limited to areas near tectonic plates, despite advances in technology that have somewhat widened the limited radius
• Still emits greenhouse gasses

Solar Thermal Energy is one of the most prevalent forms of a more environmentally sound method for creating energy. Essentially it is the act of harnessing solar energy in order to create thermal energy to be used for creating electricity, heating, and cooling.

How exactly does Solar Thermal Energy work?

HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN

The idea behind Solar Thermal Energy is to harness the power of the sun as a means of creating renewable energy here on Earth. This is done primarily through the use of Solar Panels, specially designed panels that absorb the sunlight and convert the thermal energy it provides into other forms of energy.

Most notably these panels are used for small buildings, but they range between three classifications: Low-Temperature Collectors, Medium-Temperature Collectors, and High-Temperature Collectors. Each type of collector serves a particular need:

• Low-Temperature Collectors: These are flat, black panels. They are typically used for powering small fixtures on houses, but are primarily used for heating things such as swimming pools.
• Medium-Temperature Collectors: These are also flat, black panels, and are some of the most common collectors. They are designed to heat water and air for residential buildings, as well as commercial buildings.
• High-Temperature Collectors: These collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses, and are typically used to generate massive amounts of electrical power. These can be seen

WHY GET BEHIND SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY?

Solar Thermal Energy is proving to be one of the most reliable forms of renewable energy for our needs. For a fairly limited cost and space consumption (for Low- and Medium-Temperature Collectors, any way) homes and businesses can have affordable, constant, and environmentally sound HVAC services.

As a matter of fact, musician Jack Johnson has been using a solar powered recording studio based out of Hawaii for several years. He isn’t the only one out there championing the cause, as countless other businesses have been making the steady transition to solar powered facilities in an attempt to live green – both ecologically and financially.

Solar powered businesses and residences alike have been enjoying lower energy bills thanks to a reliance on Solar Thermal Energy. Wouldn’t you like the same or similar power supply as you already enjoy, but with less cost?

Whether due to a concern for the environment, or for the state of your wallet, solar power seems to be the best way to handle your energy needs.