Geothermal energy just reached another milestone as the Texas-based startup Fervo Energy effectively extracts energy on a commercial scale from a wider range of sites.
The company employed innovative technology to drill 2.3 kilometers into the Earth's surface during its 30-day test in its pilot plant in Nevada, enabling the reliable extraction of clean energy from geothermal sources.
Current Geothermal Energy Extraction Still Has Limitations
According to the Independent's report, geothermal energy production is currently concentrated in regions near tectonic plates, like Iceland, where accessing magma close to the Earth's surface is more feasible.
Well, operation challenges have hampered geothermal energy growth, contributing to its modest percentage of worldwide renewable energy generation, which is now approximately half a percent.
Jesse Jenkins, an assistant professor at Princeton University, power systems modeling confirms geothermal energy's potential to play a crucial role in achieving a fully decarbonized grid.
Fervo Energy's recent achievement represents a significant step forward in its ambition to build a 400MW project using advanced geothermal technology, projected to become operational by 2028. Using technologies from the oil and gas sector, the business aims to improve access to formerly pricey geothermal resources.
Fervo Energy CEO Tim Latimer said in a news release said their 30-day test has proven that they can develop carbon-free energy resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week in new geographies throughout the world.
Geothermal startup @fervoenergy said Tuesday it completed a 30-day test at its pilot plant in Nevada, a key milestone for delivering hot rock energy at scale. In 2021, @Google agreed to work with Fervo to develop a next-generation geothermal power project. https://t.co/OyGcTpr6Oj
— Catherine Clifford (@CatClifford) July 18, 2023
Enhanced Geothermal Technique Uses Innovative Technology
Fervo Energy has pioneered an inventive approach known as "enhanced geothermal," which utilizes horizontal drilling to establish broad high-permeability zones within the rock, ZME Science reported. This advancement facilitates augmented steam generation and power production, ultimately expanding the feasibility of geothermal energy to a broader range of locations.
The pilot plant, Project Red, located in Nevada, marks a groundbreaking achievement in geothermal energy. Fervo successfully drilled a horizontal pair of bores, extending nearly 990 meters laterally, and conducted a 30-day well test with impressive results.
The plant achieved a flow rate of 63 liters per second at temperatures of up to 191 degrees Celsius, generating 3.4 megawatts of power, sufficient to supply around 500 US homes.
While Fervo's advancements are promising, there is still a long journey ahead in commercializing geothermal energy on a larger scale. Nevertheless, these developments present a positive step forward.
Jesse Jenkins from Princeton University states that power systems modeling affirms geothermal's significance in achieving a fully decarbonized grid. Fervo Energy's successful commercial pilot translates next-generation geothermal technology from theory into reality, unlocking its full potential.
Geothermal power has the potential to contribute to global decarbonization efforts alongside wind and solar energy, representing a more advanced stage of development in the renewable energy sector.
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