Geothermal Energy: Introduction

This lecture introduces geothermal energy, covering its advantages, drawbacks, suitable applications based on depth and temperature, efficiencies of geothermal power plants and heat pumps, the underground resource, the heat from the planet's formation and radioactive decay, the Carnot factor, the value of heat, the geothermal gradient, and historical aspects such as the first geothermal power station in Larderello.