Geothermal Power has the Potential to Power the World for the Next Several Millenia

In 2006 MIT released a comprehensive analysis of the overall potential of geothermal power to supply the world’s energy consumption needs. MIT’s findings were clear and powerful: for a comparatively moderate investment in development of technologies, the thermal forces beneath just the United States have the potential to supply the current power needs of our planets for the next several thousand years.

Their findings showed that extractable (not all geothermal energy can be harvested) geothermal power, including hydrothermal energy, from U.S. resources is equal to 140,000 times our current energy usage! Currently, geothermal supplies only 1% of the world’s energy needs.

The biggest stumbling block to full scale utilization is the still hefty cost of deep drilling to 10 kilometers below the Earth’s surface. However, the MIT analysts estimate that a 1 billion dollar investment over 15 years would yield the correct technology to harvest geothermal energy in a cost effective manner by the year 2050. This seems a small price to pay for a vast alternative energy source literally right under our feet.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems & Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy:

Geothermal power is derived from the heat stored deep within the Earth and from heat absorbed from the rock by the atmosphere and oceans. Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy (HDR) is a type of geothermal power resourced from the high temperatures found in the rocks a few miles down in the Earth’s crust. Electricity is generated by pumping water under high pressure down a drilled hole in the geothermal hotspot. Water travels through gaps in the rock until it is forced out a second borehole as super heated water and converted to electric energy via a binary power plant or a steam turbine. Once used, the water is pumped back into the ground.

Hot dry rock energy technology utilizes heat from the following situations:

1. Natural geothermal systems, where there are already cracks and spaces filled with water hot enough to generate power.
2. Systems where there are some cracks and connected pore spaces. (EGS)
3. Rocks where there are little to no cracks or connected spaces.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) make use of this ‘hot dry rock’ power, enhancing the natural geothermal system via hydraulic stimulation. When the rock’s natural fissures do not offer enough room for efficient water flow, the capacity is enhanced by pumping cold water into the rock. HDR and EGS systems are being developed in the U.S., France, Japan, and other regions.

Advantages of EGS:

*Carbon free means no ozone depletion
*runs 24 hours per day, year round.
*scalable from small village to major city size plants
*A vast resource, available world wide
*Output of environmental is very low and easily controlled.

The U.S. leads the world in production with the largest geothermal plant in the world, The Geysers, located in California.

19.1% of Iceland’s generates 19.1% of its electrical power from geothermal sources and geothermal heating is used in 87% of homes in Iceland. The country plans to be completely fossil fuel free in the very near future.

Visit our alternative energy resources page for helpful links to environmental agencies and green businesses. Dueling Fuels is always adding new reviews and research on the most promising green energy technologies as they arise. Keep checking in for more on renewable energy topics that affect all of us with their urgency.