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My limited knowledge of geothermal power production makes me believe the technology will never grow beyond minor energy production.
1.) Low availability of source heat. You either have to build over a volcanically active area or drill extremely deep wells.
2.) Low extraction of energy. Heat sources vary in their temperatures, with some generating superheated steam while others require special, low volatility liquids to boil. Energy efficiency usually comes from having a huge temperature differential, which I doubt geothermal sites can routinely achieve
3.) Heat runs out. Geothermal plants actually cool the ground as they extract heat, depleting sites of energy. Geothermal is not perpetual in the same sense as the sun.
4.) Geothermal power is already being used extensively, but only in small scale applications. I remember hearing of plants recently going back online after years of neglect, presumably due to price competition. I bet geothermal power has been in use for over a century...thousands if you include any use of a hot spring.
Home heating and cooling using the earth is certainly viable, but it is a very different technology compared to geothermal powerplants. I wouldn't count on geothermal as being the magic cure of our energy woes. Like wind, hydro, and nuclear, it'll make up the diversified group of the future's energy needs.
- LostCause
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