Geothermal
Impacts de l’énergie sur l’environnement

Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible source of energy on a human scale, whose main source is the disintegration of radioactive nuclei in the ground. These were formed in massive stars before they reached the end of their lives and exploded, scattering dust into space, some of which was responsible for the formation of the solar system. The use of geothermal energy can have an impact on air, water and soil.

In the air, gaseous pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) can escape. Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that smells like rotten eggs if the concentration is not too high, which favors corrosion phenomena. CO₂ can also be released, as well as ammonia (NH₃), which can react with H₂S to form ammonium sulfate.

As far as water is concerned, geothermal springs are rich in heavy metals dissolved in the form of salts and may contain suspended...