Revolutionizing deep geothermal drilling for stable energy
Geothermal energy is an eco-friendly and sustainable source, but current technology only permits its use in selected locations. New technological solutions, however, could change this situation.
Solar and wind energy have their drawbacks related to instability. On the other hand, traditional coal, gas, and nuclear power plants operate on the principle of turning water into steam, which then drives turbines, steadily producing electricity without significant impact from weather conditions. If we could avoid heating the water artificially, it would create the perfect, stable source of cheap electricity and heat needed for heating buildings. In Iceland, geology allows for such solutions, but in other regions, the heat is found much deeper.
Is an unlimited source of energy possible?
Deeper drilling is beneficial, and for applications such as geothermal heat pumps, they perform more efficiently in cold conditions than air heat pumps because at a depth of 100 metres, the temperature is usually above freezing, improving their efficiency during -25 degrees Celsius frosts.
New technology in energy
According to information from Interesting Engineering, the challenge of deep drilling may be resolved by technology using microwaves to vaporize rocks, enabling drilling to depths of even 16 kilometres or more. Russia's most famous borehole on the Kola Peninsula reached over 11 kilometres in depth and took twenty years to create.
Matt Houde, co-founder and project manager at Quaise Energy, stated:
The total energy content of the heat stored underground exceeds our annual energy demand as a planet by a factor of a billion. So tapping into a fraction of that is more than enough to meet our energy needs for the foreseeable future.
Drilling to save the planet?
Quaise Energy, in collaboration with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), has been developing drilling technology using microwaves, which melt and vaporize rocks, such as basalt, posing challenges for traditional drills. The technology struggles with soft rocks near the surface, so combining traditional drilling with microwave technology in the second phase of the process seems to be the best solution.
The first drills using this innovative method are planned for the coming years. However, hundreds, if not thousands, of such drills will be needed to achieve a steady and clean energy source.
