History of Geothermal Energy Use

Abstract

Geothermal energy, heat from the interior of the planet Earth, has been utilized by mankind since its existence. Hot springs and hot pools have been used for bathing and health treatment, but also for cooking or heating. The resource has also been used for producing salts from hot brines. For the early man the Earth internal heat and hot springs had religious and mythical connotation meaning.

Using thermal water for energy conversion did not start before the second half of the 19th century related to the rapid development of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics helped to efficiently convert energy from hot steam first in mechanical energy and then into electrical energy with the help of turbines and generators.