NEW YORK – Discover How Superhot Geothermal Energy Can Revolutionize Clean Energy. Newly confirmed data reveals that superhot, superdeep rock miles beneath the surface can form permeable fractures, significantly enhancing geothermal energy prospects.
Moreover, this rock, under supercritical conditions, increases permeability tenfold compared to surface-level rock. Consequently, this suggests a potentially economical and sustainable energy solution that could transform the prospects of clean energy production.
1. Superhot Geothermal Energy Considered the “Holy Grail” of Clean Energy:
New laboratory data confirm the potential for geothermal energy’s “holy grail.” This involves tapping into superhot, superdeep rock miles beneath the Earth’s surface. Such rock could generate a clean, renewable energy source capable of replacing a substantial portion of the fossil fuels that drive global warming.
Moreover, the findings, published in Nature Communications, are among the first to demonstrate that this type of rock can form fractures. These fractures connect and significantly increase permeability. Until now, geologists were unsure whether this phenomenon was even possible.
2. Commercial Benefits of Superhot Rock Geothermal Energy:
These fractures are crucial because they allow water to pass through and become supercritical. This steam-like phase is unfamiliar to most people. Common phases of water include liquid, ice, and vapor—the kind that forms clouds. Importantly, supercritical water can penetrate fractures faster and more easily.
Additionally, it can carry significantly more energy per well to the surface, roughly five to ten times the energy produced by today’s commercial geothermal wells. This information comes from the 2021 report “Superhot Rock Geothermal: A Vision for Zero-Carbon Energy ‘Everywhere,’” published by the Clean Air Task Force.
Furthermore, the data show that rock fracturing at superhot conditions can be ten times more permeable than rock that fractures at shallower depths. Not only that, but it can also deform more readily.
These factors could make this geothermal resource “much more economic,” according to Geoffrey Garrison, Vice President of Operations for Quaise Energy. Quaise is currently developing a novel drilling technique to access superdeep, superhot rock.
3. A Geological Debate Over Superhot Geothermal Rock for Clean Energy:
Until now, geologists have been divided on whether this superdeep, superhot resource can be tapped. Rock under such high pressures and temperatures—more than 375°C (707°F)—is ductile, or gooey, unlike the brittle stone in your backyard. As a result, some have argued that fractures cannot be created in this environment. Even if fractures can form, it remains uncertain whether they will stay open.
However, recent research led by a team at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) challenges this notion. The study confirms that fractures can indeed form in superhot, superdeep rock located near the brittle-to-ductile transition in the Earth’s crust. This transition zone marks the boundary where hard, brittle rock begins to transform into a more pliable, ductile material.
“There are also lots of other data coming out of this work that will inform our approach to tapping the resource,”
Garrison says. For example,
“How strong is the rock? How far do the fractures go? How many fractures can we create?”
“All of this will help us derisk the drilling involved, which is very expensive. You don’t get a lot of chances. You don’t get to drill a hole then, like hanging a picture, move it over if you’ve missed the best location.”
4. Clean Energy Exciting Finding About Enhanced Geothermal Systems [EGS]:
Peter Massie is the director of the Geothermal Energy Office at the Cascade Institute. Recently, his office released a report in collaboration with the Clean Air Task Force about drilling for superhot geothermal energy. Although Massie was not involved in the Nature Communications study, he shared his thoughts about it on X.
He stated, “Exciting finding: extreme heat and pressure can help create better enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). At very high temperatures, rocks become ductile, or plasticky. This was previously expected to impede EGS. However, this supports the prospect of ultradeep, ‘supercritical’ geothermal systems, which could lead to a major boost in output.”
5. Breakthrough Research on Deep Supercritical Geothermal Reservoirs by EPFL:
The research was led by Associate Professor Marie Violay, who is the head of the Laboratory of Experimental Rock Mechanics at EPFL. She stated:
“This work is exciting because it presents the first permeability measurements conducted during deformation at pressure and temperature conditions characteristic of deep supercritical geothermal reservoirs near the brittle-to-ductile transition in the crust.
“We have shown that the brittle-to-ductile transition is not a cutoff for fluid circulation in the crust, which is promising for the exploitation of deep geothermal reservoirs. There are very few in situ data available, and these are among the first experimental results that shed light on such extreme conditions.”
Violay’s coauthors of the Nature Communications paper are first authors Gabriel G. Meyer and Ghassan Shahin, both of EPFL, and Benoit Cordonnier of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.
Read more at SciTechDaily
Summing Up:
The research on how superhot geothermal energy can revolutionize clean energy has made a groundbreaking advancement, offering a promising development for sustainable energy solutions. As studies reveal new insights into the permeability of deep geothermal reservoirs, the potential for clean, renewable energy becomes increasingly viable. With experts like Marie Violay leading the charge, the future of geothermal energy looks bright, making way for a cleaner, zero-carbon world.
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FAQs:
1. What is superhot geothermal energy?
Superhot geothermal energy refers to the utilization of heat from superdeep rock formations that exceed temperatures of 375°C (707°F). This energy source has the potential to provide a clean and renewable alternative to fossil fuels.
2. Is geothermal energy cleaner than fossil fuels?
Yes, geothermal energy is significantly cleaner than fossil fuels. It produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions during power generation, typically releasing only water vapor, while fossil fuel plants emit substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that contribute to climate change.
3. Why is geothermal energy considered renewable?
Geothermal energy is considered renewable because it harnesses the Earth’s natural heat, which is continuously replenished through geological processes. As long as the Earth exists, this heat will be available, making geothermal energy a sustainable resource for generating electricity and heating.
