Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins Why Geothermal Is So Hot Right Now
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Sep 18, 2024 Geothermal energy is making waves, with recent advancements in enhanced geothermal technology paving the way for a cleaner, more reliable power grid. Fervo Energy’s Utah project is leading the charge with record production capacity. The discussion sheds light on how oil and gas industry expertise is transforming geothermal development, and innovative drilling techniques promise to make this energy source more accessible. With competitive advantages and a bright future on the horizon, geothermal could become the go-to clean energy source of the 2030s.
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Enhanced Geothermal: A New Approach
- Enhanced geothermal targets hot dry rocks, unlike traditional geothermal which relies on naturally fractured systems with readily available steam or hot water.
- EGS uses horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, borrowed from oil and gas, to create artificial reservoirs.
Geothermal Resource Availability
- Hot rock exists everywhere underground; the depth determines accessibility and cost.
- Enhanced geothermal initially targets shallower resources to reduce drilling costs, aiming to expand geographically later.
Geothermal's Potential Scale
- Enhanced geothermal could provide hundreds of gigawatts of clean, firm power, potentially rivaling the US nuclear fleet's capacity.
- The Western US, hotter and geologically newer, offers shallower access to high temperatures, but the Eastern US also holds potential with deeper drilling.