Volcanic Geothermal Energy

Volcanic geothermal energy is the underground heat energy associated with volcanic activity. The Earth contains an enormous heat energy resource, and volcanic eruptions are a display of the Earth’s internal thermal energy at the surface. In addition, hot springs, boiling springs, intermittent springs, hydrothermal explosions and hydrothermal alteration are all geothermal features on the Earth’s surface. Volcanic eruptions are related to the presence of high-temperature magma chambers underground, which can heat circulating groundwater. This heated groundwater is either stored underground or emitted from the ground surface as volcanic hot springs. Countries with numerous volcanoes, such as Japan and New Zealand, have rich geothermal energy resources, and several geothermal power plants have been constructed. There are many hot springs in the Tengchong volcanic area in China, some of which have temperatures up to 82 °C (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9

Volcanic geothermal station, New Zealand