Editing Geothermal desalination (section)

== Environmental impacts ==
Much of the environmental impact in the geothermal desalination process stems from the use of geothermal energy, not from the desalination process itself. Geothermal desalination has both environmental benefits and drawbacks.<ref name=":1" /> One benefit is that geothermal energy is a [[Renewable energy|renewable]] resource and emits fewer greenhouse gasses than non-renewable energy sources. Another benefit to the environment is that geothermal energy has a smaller land footprint compared to wind or solar energy.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last1=Vargas |first1=Carlos A. |last2=Caracciolo |first2=Luca |last3=Ball |first3=Philip J. |date=2022-03-18 |title=Geothermal energy as a means to decarbonize the energy mix of megacities |journal=Communications Earth & Environment |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |page=66 |doi=10.1038/s43247-022-00386-w |bibcode=2022ComEE...3...66V |issn=2662-4435|doi-access=free }}</ref> More specifically, the land usage required for geothermal desalination site has been estimated to be 1.2 to 2.7 square terameters are required for each megawatt of energy produced.<ref name=":0" />

One environmental drawback is due to geothermal desalination being an energy intensive process; the energy consumption ranges from about 4 to 27 kWh per square meter of the desalination plant.<ref name=":1" /> Moreover, some researchers are concerned that due to lack of regulation on [[Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere|carbon dioxide]] ({{CO2}}) emissions from geothermal plants, particularly in the [[United States]], there are significant detrimental {{CO2}} emissions from these plants that are not being measured.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Bayer |first1=Peter |last2=Rybach |first2=Ladislaus |last3=Blum |first3=Philipp |last4=Brauchler |first4=Ralf |date=2013-10-01 |title=Review on life cycle environmental effects of geothermal power generation |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032113003420 |journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews |language=en |volume=26 |pages=446–463 |doi=10.1016/j.rser.2013.05.039 |issn=1364-0321}}</ref> Geothermal power has been found to leak toxic elements such as mercury, boron, and arsenic into the environment, meaning geothermal desalination plants are a potential health hazard for their surrounding environment. Ultimately though, the long term environmental consequences of geothermal power desalination plants are still not clear.<ref name=":2" />