Geothermal energy environmental effects

The most adverse environmental effect of geothermal energy utilization is chemical pollution, from gaseous components in steam that are discharged into the atmosphere and from aqueous components in spent water that may mix with surface- and groundwaters. This problem has been reduced by injecting into drillholes both the separated water and the steam condensate. Injection is specifically discussed in a separate section below. 

Lack of applications and publications on general environmental effects related to engineering activities, as demonstrated by much less works reported about contaminant transport and consequences, such as nuclear waste management, geothermal energy utilization, landfill performance evaluation and landslides ... 

Land subsidence and seismic effects, such as the mini-earthquakes that occur when water is pumped under extreme pressure into hot rock formations that fracture as a consequence, are environmental factors that may hinder the development of geothermal power. However, this energy source holds considerable promise, and its development continues. 

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