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.

www.bbc.com

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