Book excerpt: More than 20 countries generate electricity from geothermal resources and about 60 countries make direct use of geothermal energy. A ten-fold increase in geothermal energy use is foreseeable at the current technology level. Geothermal Energy: An Alternative Resource for the 21st Century provides a readable and coherent account of all facets of geothermal energy development and summarizes the present day knowledge on geothermal resources, their exploration and exploitation. Accounts of geothermal resource models, various exploration techniques, drilling and production technology are discussed within 9 chapters, as well as important concepts and current technological developments. - Interdisciplinary approach, combining traditional disciplines such as geology, geophysics, and engineering - Provides a readable and coherent account of all facets of geothermal energy development - Describes the importance of bringing potable water to high-demand areas such as the tropical regions