Texas has many incredible energy-related resources. Obviously, the state’s wealth and current economy largely depend on oil and gas production. Thousands of property owners negotiate oil and gas leases and allow companies to install wells on their property. Many of the best-paid careers in Texas relate to the oil and gas sector. However, Texas has also become a leading player in renewable energy as well. The increased efficiency of renewable energy systems, including solar energy and wind power, has led to many landowners investing in large-scale energy projects on their property.
There is another type of renewable energy that could potentially have a major impact on the Texas economy and possibly the energy infrastructure around the United States. Geothermal energy is an up-and-coming form of renewable energy that has a lot of promise for property owners in Texas.
How geothermal energy generation works
As people may be able to glean from the name, geothermal energy relates to using the heat inside the Earth. Small-scale geothermal operations often provide heating and cooling support for residential properties. A domestic geothermal system may pump water down into the soil to change its temperature and moderate the environment inside a home.
Larger geothermal operations can use the infrastructure established through the installation of oil and gas wells to produce electricity. By accessing the surprisingly hot areas deep underground via existing oil and gas wells, geothermal installations can either use the heat itself or can convert that heat energy into electricity. There are already at least a dozen startups in Texas looking into ways to capitalize on the infrastructure and natural resources across the state, and many others are likely to follow suit.
Unlike other renewable energy projects, which may face backlash from neighbors, geothermal installations often do not make any major changes to nearby land use and have minimal or no impact on wildlife. They can help a property owner or agricultural entrepreneur become more energy-independent without disturbing neighbors with unsightly machinery. They could also generate a viable secondary stream of revenue for property owners and businesses with real property holdings.
Learning more about different renewable energy projects may help those in Texas better utilize the resources at their disposal.
