Introduction

Humankind may gather energy from every imaginable source. We require energy to run our machinery, generate electricity, and do all the other essential tasks in the modern world. Given contemporary technology, energy may be derived from a variety of sources. From an environmental perspective, renewable resources are the preferred source of energy.

Engineers and scientists are exploiting the kinetic energy of the wind to produce power, since anything that moves has kinetic energy. A wind turbine is a device that harnesses the strength of the wind to produce electricity, which is how wind energy, also known as wind power, is produced. Wind energy is a significant and sustainable investment for the future since it converts the energy of an unrenewable resource like the wind into electricity. Wind farms with numerous wind turbines must be built, either on land or offshore, in order to use the wind.

Geothermal energy is thermal energy that is produced and stored in the Earth.The energy that controls matter's temperature is known as thermal energy.

Tidal energy is a type of hydroelectric power that uses tides to generate useful forms of energy, primarily electricity. Tidal energy has the potential to provide electricity in the future, while not currently being widely utilised. It is a renewable energy source.

Wind Energy vs. Geothermal Energy

The primary distinction between wind energy and geothermal energy is that wind energy is produced by harnessing localised wind. while the heat that is constantly present in the ground is used to produce geothermal energy. Both are available without any limitations and are renewable. Many nations utilise wind energy extensively. In the history of man, it has been utilised for a very long period of time.

Wind Energy vs. Geothermal Energy

One of the cheap, sustainable energy sources is wind energy. It is extremely environmentally friendly and is utilised in many nations. This energy is produced using the wind. In locations where there is a lot of wind, wind turbines are installed. The wind drives these turbines to revolve, and the energy they produce is transformed into electric currents.

Geothermal energy is produced by harnessing the heat that naturally exists in the earth's mantle and crust. The earth's interior has been extremely hot since its formation. The molten magma in the core is what generates this heat. In some locations, this warms the water, creating hot springs. Humans make use of this heat to produce electricity.

Difference Between Wind Energy and Geothermal Energy in Tabular Form

Parameter of comparison	Wind energy	Geothermal energy
Source	wind	Heat from earth
Method of generation	The use of windmills and wind turbines	To heat water, deep earthen wells are utilized.
Countries	America, Germany, Spain, China, India, etc.	Philippines, New Zealand, the United States of America, Turkey, etc.
Advantage	Green and simple to maintain	sustainable and renewable
Disadvantage	Loss of biodiversity and habitat	earthquakes, air pollution, and cost

What is Wind Energy?

What process produces wind? The earth's surface is not evenly affected by solar radiation; where it is warmer, air prefers to rise because it weighs less, forming low-pressure areas; where it is colder, air tends to descend because it weighs more, forming high-pressure areas. The air moves as a result of the pressure differential, creating wind, a powerful element that can be exploited to produce energy.

Wind Energy Definition

Wind energy is power generated by the wind's force. How? with the aid of a wind turbine, which converts the kinetic energy of air currents into electrical energy. The rotor, which converts kinetic energy into mechanical energy, and the generator, which converts this mechanical energy into electrical energy, are the two basic mechanisms used to extract the energy. We're talking about an energy source that is secure, mature, efficient, and sustainable that is essential to the decarbonization of the economy and the energy transition.

Compared to nuclear and fossil fuels, wind energy is one of the most environmentally friendly solutions. It rarely, if ever, has any environmental impact. People have used wind energy for millennia to run turbines, boats, and other devices. Farmhouses utilized windmills to pump water to the crops, for grinding, and for other purposes.

In order to create and deliver energy using wind power, wind farms are built in many nations. The area with the greatest quantity of wind is picked. There may be hundreds of turbines in a wind farm. These wind turbines may be spotted all across a sizable region. The area where the wind turbines are situated is also utilised for other things. They are primarily employed in farming.

Onshore or offshore wind farms are also possible. Onshore wind farms are the most prevalent. Compared to offshore farms, they are less expensive to build and require little maintenance. Compared to onshore competitors, offshore wind farms provide a lot more power. Wind energy has been produced effectively in nations like India, China, and the US.

The Muppandal wind farm in India is the second-largest wind farm after China. A power collector links the turbines together. A transformer is used to boost the low voltage of the current generation. Transmission lines are used to carry electricity to markets.

Working of Wind Energy

As we just discussed, a wind turbine is required to harness the kinetic energy of the wind and transform it into electrical energy. The best way to use these enormous structures—which are typically between 80 and 120 metres high—depends on how strong the wind is. As a result, wind farms that pool several wind turbines and enable the production of huge amounts of this energy must be built in areas with a predominance of windy circumstances.

A vane on the nacelle is used to position the wind turbines so that they face the direction of the wind.

The three major components of the wind turbine will then begin to rotate due to the force of the air currents:

• The purpose of the rotor, which consists of three blades and a bushing connecting them, is to collect wind energy and transform it into mechanical rotational energy.
• The multiplier's job is to raise the rotational speed from 30 revolutions per minute (rpm) to 1500 rpm. It is connected to the engine by a shaft.
• The generator is the component that transforms rotational mechanical energy into electrical energy.
• Underground cables connect each of the wind turbines that make up a wind farm, and these cables then transport the electricity to a transformer substation.

Through the distribution networks of the numerous power providers, it is then delivered to residences, businesses, or educational institutions, among other destinations.

What is Geothermal Energy?

Thermal energy is continuously transferred from the planet's interior to its surface due to the difference in temperature between the earth's core and the earth's surface. Some of the rock in the Earth's core melts at temperatures of over 4000 °C to generate hot, molten rock known as magma. Given that the mantle is lighter than the underlying rock, this heat also forces some of it to convect upward and act plastically.

The rock and water in the crust of the Earth can get as hot as 370°C. From surface-level levels all the way down to several miles below, thermal energy is present in the rocks and fluids.

Humans exploited geothermal energy throughout the Paleolithic era in the form of hot spring water. But it was only later that the idea of making energy from this heat from the Earth was developed. Because it is sustainable and eco-friendly, it has gained relevance. Only if cutting-edge technology were accessible in every nation could humanity as a whole rely on geothermal resources for its energy requirements.

However, just a few nations use this energy today. The cost of producing geothermal energy has decreased due to technological advancement. However, this energy has a little higher cost for individuals. But those who care about the environment are willing to spend a bit extra.

The United States had the first successful geothermal plant. The country that uses geothermal energy the most is America. Near the margins of the tectonic plates is where geothermal plants are frequently found. Switzerland's geothermal demonstration projects were shut down after they caused an earthquake. Some nations that use geothermal energy include the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, Turkey, and others.

With the assistance of the earth's high temperature, water is heated, and the steam is separated. To create electricity, this steam is needed. Wells are drilled for heating purposes; these wells serve as reservoirs. To heat it up, water is put into it.

However, hazardous gases like hydrogen sulphide and methane are released when water is heated. One of the issues with geothermal energy is this.

Geothermal Energy is created in what way?

To access the geothermal resources, wells up to a mile deep or more are dug into underground reservoirs. These resources can be obtained through enhanced geothermal systems, which increase or develop geothermal resources through a procedure known as hydraulic stimulation, or from naturally occurring heat, rock, and water permeability. Whether they are upgraded or natural, these geothermal resources power turbines that are connected to electrical generators.

In Larderello, Italy, in 1904, geothermal heat was exploited for the first time to create electricity. However, bathing has been done using geothermal heat ever since the Paleolithic period. It has also been demonstrated that monkeys in Japan use hot spring water that has been heated to stay warm during the colder months in hilly areas.

What are the Benefits and Drawbacks?

The primary benefits of geothermal energy as a source of renewable energy are environmental. It only generates a sixth of the carbon dioxide that a clean natural gas power station would emit. It is always available, unlike other renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Geothermal power has disadvantages despite being reasonably priced, environmentally benign, and sustainable. First off, only regions close to tectonic plate borders can produce anything. Additionally, after decades of use, some places might cool off.

Drilling and site discovery are expensive, but once a plant is up and running, it is more affordable than fossil fuels. This is partly because drills and other instruments wear out quickly in such hostile conditions. Hydrogen sulphide, a gas with an odour akin to rotten eggs, can be released by geothermal facilities. Last but not least, some geothermal fluids have trace amounts of harmful substances that must be disposed of.

Main Difference Between Wind Energy and Geothermal Energy in Points

• Wind turbines located in wind farms are used to produce wind energy. The heat from the earth's mantle is used for geothermal energy.
• Wind energy is clean and environmentally benign, while geothermal energy emits harmful pollutants including carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide.
• Many nations use wind energy extensively, while only a small number of nations today utilize geothermal energy.
• Compared to geothermal energy, wind energy has lower construction and operating costs and requires less upkeep.
• While geothermal facilities have the potential to discharge hazardous substances including arsenic, boron, antimony, and mercury into the environment, wind farms do not.

Conclusion

The two major issues the world is currently experiencing are pollution and climate change. Both of these are the result of different human-made actions. We devastate a variety of ecosystems and damage the environment. We use natural resources improperly. Once used up, nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished. Better alternatives for utilising renewable resources are therefore taken into account. Additionally, the combustion of coal and other nonrenewable resources causes air pollution.

While using renewable resources is preferable, There is no environmental pollution from wind farms. However, the development of these farms might destroy the local ecosystem. Consequently, biodiversity may decline. The production of geothermal energy makes a negligible dent in air pollution. Although both of them have drawbacks, they are still superior to many other means of energy production.

References

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032102000023
• https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=roaTx_Of0vAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=wind+energy+&ots=O4UAOteJU8&sig=biFckCnJ9lRI4AvD7Sz1tLzFo50