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Geothermal Power Generation – A Report on the Potential and Opportunities

Introduction

From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Jamie Beard, the founder of Project InnerSpace, which aims to kickstart geothermal power generation.

Geothermal Energy and its Potential

Earth’s crust holds an abundant supply of heat that can be turned into electricity through geothermal technology.

So far, geothermal power generation has been mostly limited to volcanic areas like Iceland, where that heat is easy to access. But advances in deep drilling technology are revolutionizing the field worldwide.

In 2006, research led by MIT for the national labs pointed to the huge opportunity of this deep geothermal as an always-on renewable that some say could be a game-changer for the climate. And recently, the Interior Department greenlit the massive Fervo Energy project in Utah that should produce as much as 2 gigawatts, enough to power more than 2 million homes.

The Current State of Geothermal Energy

The current state of geothermal energy in the United States is really exciting. Geothermal has been pretty sleepy in the United States, and quite frankly, globally, because geothermal is limited geographically in where you can do it in the hydrothermal sense, but also just because there has not been a lot of awareness about geothermal and the opportunity that it presents. Because of that, there’s not been a whole lot of investment in the space. There’s not been a whole lot of interested parties who want to do projects.

That’s changing rapidly in the United States, where now we have a lot of stakeholders interested in developing geothermal projects. Technology companies are engaging in geothermal, wanting to produce geothermal energy to power data centers, and there’s also a lot of interest coming out of the oil and gas industry now in geothermal. We’ve entered this renaissance period in the United States and globally for geothermal.

The Potential of Geothermal in the Energy Landscape

Geothermal energy has the potential to be a game-changer in the energy landscape, especially when it comes to the idea of base load power. Unlike solar and wind, which are intermittent, geothermal doesn’t have that issue. Once a geothermal power plant is built, it has a high capacity factor, meaning it’s always on and doesn’t depend on weather conditions. Geothermal can even be ramped up and down based on energy demand. This makes geothermal an exciting prospect for critical infrastructure like data centers that require firm clean power. Geothermal also has potential as a heating and cooling application.

The Depth of Geothermal Drilling

The next generation of geothermal involves drilling at depths at least as deep as oil and gas drilling, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 feet. While shallow geothermal systems for home heating and cooling have been around, the focus now is on drilling for geothermal energy at greater depths. There is an enormous amount of developable geothermal energy at depths that we’re already used to drilling within the oil and gas industry.

The Role of the Fossil Fuel Industry in Geothermal

The fossil fuel industry has a significant role to play in the clean energy transition through geothermal. The capabilities, technologies, and workforce of the oil and gas industry can be leveraged to accelerate geothermal development. By redirecting the workforce and technologies towards drilling for heat instead of oil and gas, the oil and gas industry can contribute to the growth and scaling of geothermal technology. This collaboration has the potential to make a massive impact on global energy demand.

Geothermal as a Clean Energy Source

Geothermal, once developed and producing power, is a virtually carbon-free clean energy source. While there may be carbon emissions during the construction phase, geothermal uses the heat from the Earth to produce clean electricity and heat. Next-generation geothermal concepts may adopt hydraulic fracturing technology from the oil and gas industry, but without the use of fossil fuels. This technology can enhance the efficiency of geothermal systems.

The Potential for Scaling Up Geothermal Technology

The shale boom in the oil and gas industry serves as evidence that we can scale up geothermal technology. The rapid transformation in the energy landscape within a decade, from talking about peak oil and gas to becoming a leading producer, showcases the capabilities of the oil and gas industry. By transferring the energy and speed from the oil and gas industry to geothermal, we can achieve a similar transformation. Geothermal has the potential to become the next shale boom, with the oil and gas industry playing a crucial role in its growth and scalability.

Conclusion

Geothermal power generation holds immense potential for addressing the climate crisis and meeting global energy demand. With advancements in deep drilling technology and the involvement of the oil and gas industry, geothermal can become a significant contributor to the sustainable development goals. By harnessing the Earth’s heat, geothermal offers a clean and reliable source of electricity and heat, making it a promising solution for a sustainable energy future.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the potential of geothermal energy as a renewable and always-on source of electricity generation. This aligns with SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The development of geothermal technology also falls under SDG 9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. Additionally, geothermal energy can contribute to SDG 13 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning

The article highlights the potential of geothermal energy to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, which aligns with SDG 7.2. It also discusses the need to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, which corresponds to SDG 9.4. Furthermore, the development of geothermal energy contributes to integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning, as stated in SDG 13.2.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Increased share of geothermal energy in the global energy mix
• Number of geothermal projects and stakeholders interested in developing geothermal projects
• Number of geothermal wells drilled globally
• Percentage of global electricity demand supplied by geothermal energy
• Percentage of global heat demand supplied by geothermal energy

These indicators can be used to track the progress of geothermal energy development and its contribution to the targets under SDGs 7, 9, and 13.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: insideclimatenews.org