Geothermal, Nuclear, and Hydropower Energy Sources

Vocabulary flashcards covering core definitions, processes, key facilities, and real-world examples across Geothermal, Nuclear, and Hydropower energy sources.

Geothermal Energy

Energy that comes from the heat inside the Earth, produced by the decay of radioactive materials in the Earth's core, which can be used to generate electricity or for direct heating.

Geothermal Power Plant Process

A 4-step generation cycle in which deep wells are drilled to extract underground hot water or steam, turning turbines connected to generators to produce electricity before the cooled water is re-injected.

Re-injection (Geothermal)

The step in geothermal energy production where cooled water is pumped back into the ground to sustain the underground steam/water reservoir.

Tiwi Geothermal Plant

A major geothermal power production facility located in Albay, Philippines.

Nuclear Energy

A power source that utilizes nuclear reactions to produce electricity, primarily operating through nuclear fission of heavy elements in commercial power plants.

Nuclear Fission

The commercial process where a heavy, unstable nucleus (such as Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239) absorbs a neutron and splits into smaller nuclei, releasing kinetic energy, heat, and free neutrons that drive a chain reaction.

Nuclear Fusion

A process under development where light atomic nuclei (hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium) combine under extreme heat and pressure to form helium, releasing energy with minimal radioactive waste.

Nuclear Reactor

A device where controlled nuclear reactions take place to produce heat for power generation.

Nuclear Radiation

Energy released from unstable atoms, utilized in medical fields, industrial applications, and scientific research.

Uranium-235

A heavy, unstable nuclear fuel isotope that splits when absorbing a neutron during commercial nuclear fission.

Hydropower Energy

Also known as hydroelectric power; a renewable, reliable, and versatile source of electricity generated by utilizing the continuous water cycle and flowing water.

Penstock

A closed conduit that channels water flow directly to turbines in a hydroelectric setup, regulated by gates, valves, and turbines.

Impoundment Facility

A large hydropower system that uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir, releasing stored water to spin turbines connected to electrical generators.

Diversion Facility

Also known as a run-of-river facility; channels a portion of a river through a canal or penstock to exploit natural river bed elevation decline, often without needing a dam.

Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH)

A energy storage facility that pumps water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir using excess electricity, holding it to release through turbines when grid demand is high.

Tidal Energy

A form of ocean hydropower that harnesses kinetic movement from changing ocean tides using barrages, sluice gates, and turbines to produce electricity.

Wave Power

An emerging form of ocean hydropower that converts the kinetic movement of surface sea waves into electricity using offshore installations.

Hoover Dam

A prominent example of an impoundment hydropower facility that uses a dam and reservoir.

Chief Joseph Dam

A major example of a diversion hydropower facility.

Domenico Cimarosa Plant

A Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) facility located in Presenzano, Italy.