Geothermal Energy, generally described as the 'Earth's heat', is a clean, renewable resource and can be tapped by many countries around the world. Geothermal energy can be harnessed from underground reservoirs, containing hot rocks saturated with water and/or steam. Boreholes of typically two kilometers (6,500 feet) depth or more are drilled into the reservoirs.The hot water and steam are then piped up to a geothermal power plant, where they are used to drive electric generators to create power for businesses and homes. Geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource because it exploits the Earth’s interior heat, which is considered abundant, and water, once used and cooled, is then piped back to the reservoir.

Geothermal energy can be used for electricity production and for using geothermal heat directly, e.g. for heating purposes, food processing, fish farming, bathing and other applications that require heat. In this, geothermal is unique compared to other renewables. It not only provides a real base-load capacity for electricity generation, but also presents a real and cleaner alternative to fossil fuels for heat production.

While there are some geographical limitations to generating electricity economically from geothermal resources, geothermal heat can be used around the globe. Direct use applications are heating, bathing, fish farming and many other applications that need heat.

Technological development might have a big impact on the global potential for the utilization of geothermal energy and extend the reach tremendously. The potential for geothermal energy is tremendous. Today and with current technology alone, less than 7 percent of the overall electricity generation potential from geothermal is being used.