Around the Corner: You Might Not Know the Drill; New Geothermal Technology is On the Doorstep

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The article discusses the emerging potential of geothermal energy as a carbon-free electric supply resource, particularly through new technologies that allow for deeper drilling into the Earth's crust. Traditional geothermal energy has been limited to areas with hydrothermal resources, but advancements in drilling techniques, borrowed from the fracking industry, enable developers to access geothermal heat from hot, hard rock at depths of a mile or more. This unconventional geothermal resource is gaining traction as companies utilize specialized equipment to create horizontal boreholes and circulate working fluids to harvest heat, which is then converted into electricity.

Two primary approaches to this new geothermal industry are highlighted: enhanced geothermal, which involves fracturing rock to create permeability between wells, and advanced geothermal, which utilizes closed-loop systems to circulate heated fluids. Recent commercial contracts, such as those signed by Fervo Energy with major companies like Google and Shell, indicate a growing interest and investment in geothermal projects. The article also notes the significant potential for geothermal energy in the U.S., with estimates suggesting vast resources that could be tapped, especially as drilling technology continues to improve, making deeper and previously inaccessible geothermal energy more viable.