It is clear that geothermal generating stations extract energy from a resource
more rapidly than it is replenished from the interior of the earth. Assume that a resource has 10 EJ of energy that can be extracted economically. If this resource is used to generate 250 MWe of electricity, how long will the resource last? It is necessary to know the efficiency of electric generation. Assume an efficiency of one-third the ideal Carnot efficiency (Example 15.2). This is typical of the actual average operational efficiency of a geothermal generating station.

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The Answer of It is clear that geothermal generating stations extract energy from a resource
more rapidly than it is replenished from the interior of the earth. Assume that a resource has 10 EJ of energy that can be extracted economically. If this resource is used to generate 250 MWe of electricity, how long will the resource last? It is necessary to know the efficiency of electric generation. Assume an efficiency of one-third the ideal Carnot efficiency (Example 15.2). This is typical of the actual average operational efficiency of a geothermal generating station.

It Is Clear That Geothermal Generating Stations Extract Energy from a Resource