Enhanced Geothermal Energy could become a significant source of clean energy as the world transitions away from fossil fuel energy sources. For the first time, a private company has just proved that it can produce geothermal energy at competitive cost. Fervo Energy is using oil and gas industry technology to access geothermal energy 8-10,000 feet down, and produce clean energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Such a resource could be a key component in a clean energy mix, providing energy at times when wind and solar are off production.
Traditional geothermal energy sources rely on natural fissures in the Earth’s surface that produce hydrothermal energy, often in the form of geysers or hot springs. There are numerous places in the world where this is possible, notably in Iceland, in Japan, in the Rift Valley in Kenya, and in Northern California hot spring country. Enhanced Geothermal Energy, or Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), can be developed in more locations with fewer limiting geological conditions.
Partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Enhanced Geothermal Shot program (part of the DOE’s Energy Earthshots Initiative), Fervo has been developing this new technology for several years, and has achieved a milestone with its first full-scale and fully licensed enhanced geothermal power plant. Located in northern Nevada, Fervo’s first plant (Project Red) is set to sell clean electricity to the wholesale energy market, with PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) already in hand. Response has been so robust that new plants are already in the planning.
I was skeptical when I heard that fracking was being explored as a technology for clean energy production. I’ve been reassured as I’ve learned more about it, as this new fracking technology uses a closed loop system of water circulation and seals off any potential fossil fuel emissions. There are no chemicals injected in this fracking process, so no contamination of ground water—clean fracking! The product here is not natural gas or any type of fossil fuel. The product is simply the heat beneath the Earth’s surface captured by recirculating water to run electricity-producing turbines.
Quite amazing when you dig into it. (Sorry for the pun…couldn’t resist!)
Another benefit of Enhanced Geothermal Systems is that they can make use of the experience and skill of oil and gas workers, and help many of them to transition out of the fossil fuel industry and into the clean energy economy. And it is showing promise as a carbon capture opportunity, since EGS produces heat and energy, both of which are necessary for carbon capture.
One important question I still have is the potential for seismic activity related to the fracking needed for EGS. So far the answer has been that choosing the right locations should mitigate the risks. But I’d like to learn more on this particular concern, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for related reporting.
Sources:
Forbes – Enhanced geothermal could be a missing piece of America’s climate puzzle
Daily Kos – Could kinder, gentler fracking create a breakthrough in geothermal power?
U.S. Department of Energy – Enhanced Geothermal Shot
Volts – Enhanced geothermal power is finally a reality
Volts – What’s going on with geothermal power?
Bloomberg News – Fervo Energy says it has achieved geothermal energy tech breakthrough
Wired – Vast untapped green energy source is hiding beneath your feet
Popular Science – An American start-up claims it just set a geothermal energy record
2 Responses
Thank you for doing all this research Deborah..and keeping us informed. I look forward to hearing what you find out about fracking and seismic activity. I was recently in Iceland and that country is almost completely run on hydroelectric energy. So encouraging! I spoke with many people there about it and nobody mentioned increased earthquakes, but I look forward to hearing more info.
Glad you enjoyed the post! The seismic risk is more associated with the fracking needed for the enhanced geothermal. The question is how much risk is there with this type of fracking. As I understand it, when it is a natural geothermal source as in Iceland, there are only the kinds of earthquake risks that can come in volcanic regions, with or without harnessing geothermal energy.