There’s a strong source of energy deep below some parts of the United States. At least, that’s what Geothermal energy from Superhot rocks is promising.
According to new calculations made by the University of Twente and the Clean Air Task Force, even a very small portion of these really hot formations could produce more than 62,000 TWh of electricity. The potential of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah is particularly big.
Mazama Energy is right now conducting a pilot project at Oregon’s Newberry Volcano To find out if pits are capable of moving fluids or steam to produce electricity and tolerate temperatures higher than 400 °C. If they do, then superheated rock could be transformed into carbon-free renewable energy to replace solar and wind power.
The models’ conclusions and the reasons these states are at the top
The Clean Air Task Force and the University of Twente developed a heat-endowment model that suggested superheated formations at great depth could store huge amounts of usable heat.
They found out that using approximately 1% of North America’s superhot rocks could generate approximately 7.5 terawatts, or more than 62,000 TWh of electricity, according to the headline figure.
These numbers are based on models and potentially accessible resources. They’re not guaranteed reserves yet, and are only based on geological assumptions, like depths (usually less than ~12.5 km), and upcoming technological progress.
Now, why Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and California? Well, according to the modeling, areas where there’s tectonic or volcanic activity, thinner crust, and higher heat flow could bring superhot zones closer to exploring deeper levels.
The main objectives of Mazama Energy’s pilot project at Newberry Volcano are to prove that wells can reliably circulate fluid or steam for power generation and that reservoirs can reach and maintain temperatures above 400 °C.
If the pilots verify the stability and performance then geothermal energy from superheated rocks could provide a weather-resistant power grid available 24 hours a day, with a little help from solar and wind power.
How to convert superheated rock into dependable energy
It is difficult to drill in very hot places. There’s high pressure and extremely high temperatures, wells may have to travel 8–10 km (and occasionally deeper) through hard and fractured rock. So the engineering challenges are grow with it: materials can expand and contract, fluids have be moved and sealed without leaking, operators have to monitor and control potential induced seismicity, and equipment have to operate safely at temperatures above 400°C.
Then there are others non-technical situations to handle, like a first-of-a-kind project like this one, tend to get expensive, needs environmental regulations, schedules approvals, and policy support. Then there’s land use, water use, and any possible impacts on ecosystems that must be taken into account during planning, even public opinion is important for this.
But challenges are not limits, and despite all of that, the proposition is very valuable. Costs could actually gradually decrease if pilots do great and show performance and interesting results.
A rich resource with potential for the future
Not every resource that has been modeled will be profitable or viable, and advancement calls for better drilling methods, long-lasting materials, close observation, and supportive laws.
However, the direction is convincing enough. Energy from superheated rocks could offer the U.S. dependable, carbon-free power that would support the clean energy mix, so even if only a portion turns out to be usable, this would make the process easier for a cleaner and more reliable electrical grid.
Implementing the pilot projects, learning fast, cutting expenses, and carefully managing effects are the obvious next steps for the constant heat to be transformed into a reliable light switch for millions of households in the United States.