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That is just more complicated than it needs to be.First question: how much energy does the US need?Answer:The US currently uses about 100 "quads of energy a year. A quad is equal to 1x1018 Joules. So we need to generate 1020 Joules a year. If we assume (incorrectly, but this is only an order of magnitude calculation) that power demand is constant, then we need to produce 1012 Watts of power.A nuclear power plant produces about 1000 MW of powers, so we require 1000 nuclear reactors."Said differently:"The US uses power at an average rate of about 4.1 terawatts, i.e. about 4100 gigawatts. A big nuclear reactor produces about 1 gigawatt."Yes there are differences, big deal, this is just a forum. Let's at least start with an estimate.Second question: How much energy can geothermal produce?
That is just more complicated than it needs to be.
First question: how much energy does the US need?
Answer:
The US currently uses about 100 "quads of energy a year. A quad is equal to 1x1018 Joules. So we need to generate 1020 Joules a year. If we assume (incorrectly, but this is only an order of magnitude calculation) that power demand is constant, then we need to produce 1012 Watts of power.
A nuclear power plant produces about 1000 MW of powers, so we require 1000 nuclear reactors."
Said differently:
"The US uses power at an average rate of about 4.1 terawatts, i.e. about 4100 gigawatts. A big nuclear reactor produces about 1 gigawatt."
Yes there are differences, big deal, this is just a forum. Let's at least start with an estimate.
Second question: How much energy can geothermal produce?
