Scientists develop advanced drills to unlock geothermal energy deep in Earth

Geothermal energy could become a global green powerhouse, but new drilling technologies are needed to reach the Earth's untapped energy reserves far below the surface.

Norman Miller reports for BBC.

In short:

• Geothermal energy offers a nearly limitless, always-available energy source, but widespread use requires accessing deep supercritical heat reservoirs.
• New drilling methods, such as millimeter-wave energy and plasma drills, aim to tackle the challenges of extreme depths and temperatures.
• These technologies could retrofit old fossil fuel plants or power dense urban areas with minimal surface space needs.

Key quote:

“Millimetre-wave drilling is a process that can operate largely independent of depth. And millimetre-wave energy can also transmit through dirty, dusty environments.”

— Matt Houde, co-founder of Quaise Energy

Why this matters:

Deep geothermal energy has the potential to provide low-emission, reliable energy for diverse regions, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. As climate change accelerates, innovations in drilling technology could enable countries without natural geothermal hotspots to adopt sustainable energy solutions.