Geothermal energy originates from the natural heat produced within the Earth. This heat can be found in the form of steam or hot water trapped beneath the Earth's surface and is harnessed through various technologies to generate electricity or to provide heating. Geothermal power plants typically exploit high-temperature resources, while geothermal heat pumps are often used to harness low-temperature resources for residential heating and cooling. The use of geothermal energy is considered environmentally friendly as it produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions and has a small footprint compared to fossil fuel extraction.