Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is thermal energy stored in the accessible part of the earth's crust. It is an emission-free regenerative energy source that is available all year round at any location and is generously subsidised by the government.
A distinction is made between direct and indirect use of geothermal energy. While geothermal heat pumps (brine-water heat pumps) are used for heating, cooling and hot water preparation and use the near-surface heat of the earth directly to evaporate its refrigerant and thus initiate the heat pump process, indirect use involves harnessing the heat of the earth in a geothermal power plant and converting it into electricity. In the case of combined heat and power (CHP), the geothermal heat is simultaneously converted into electricity and used for heating.
Geothermal heat pumps (brine-water heat pumps) designed for household heating systems normally use geothermal probes requiring a permit or space-intensive geothermal heat collectors to harness geothermal energy. Less energy-efficient geothermal exchange baskets and geothermal trenches (trench heaters) are used less frequently.
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