How do geothermal heat pumps differ from geothermal power plants?

The primary difference between geothermal power plants and geothermal heat pumps lies in their purpose and the method by which they harness Earth's energy.

Geothermal Power Plants
These large-scale facilities are designed to convert geothermal energy into electricity. They typically require high-temperature resources—often found near tectonic plate boundaries—to produce steam that drives turbines connected to electrical generators. Depending on the design, they may use dry steam, flash steam, or binary-cycle technology to facilitate this energy conversion.12

Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs)
In contrast, geothermal heat pumps are "direct-use" systems designed for the heating and cooling of individual buildings. Rather than converting energy into electricity, they circulate a fluid through underground pipes to exchange heat with the Earth, which maintains a relatively constant temperature of 10–16 °C (50–60 °F) near the surface.23

• Efficiency: GHPs are highly efficient, using 25–50 percent less electricity than conventional HVAC systems.3
• Operation: They do not require the high-temperature reservoirs needed for power generation; instead, they simply move heat into or out of a building as needed.23