Energy source from super hot rocks 374 degrees Celsius underground

Scientists research super-hot rocks at a depth of nearly 10 km as a potential renewable energy source to replace fossil fuels.

In the context of the world shifting towards renewable energy, geothermal energy is receiving great attention. Geothermal power plants often exploit heat from the Earth’s surface. But now, scientists are paying attention to a more powerful source of geothermal energy: super-hot rocks.

A new report by a team of researchers from Cornell University and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) highlights the potential of superheated rocks as an important source of renewable energy, providing abundant, reliable electricity and cost effective, Interesting Engineering reported on December 9.

Traditional geothermal energy sources are limited to areas of high heat flow near the Earth’s surface – typically near tectonic plate boundaries. However, new technology makes geothermal energy accessible to more places by harnessing energy from super-hot rocks.

Super-hot rock is rock deep in the Earth’s crust, heated to a temperature exceeding 374 degrees Celsius. To exploit, it is necessary to drill deep into the Earth’s crust and inject water into the hot rock. The water is heated, then returns to the surface as steam. Steam can be used to generate electricity or produce hydrogen.

In 2022, Cornell University drilled a 3.2 km deep exploration well to study the potential of this geothermal energy source. However, to extract energy from super-hot rock, it is necessary to drill at least 9.7 km deep.

To safely access energy from super-hot rocks, the research team emphasizes that it is necessary to choose a suitable location and understand underground conditions. Geothermal projects rely heavily on detailed information about temperature, pressure, water flow and rock properties. In addition, the world also needs significant advances in drilling equipment and techniques to reduce risks and increase efficiency.

“Unlike other renewable energy technologies that can be easily scaled up, geothermal power generation is highly dependent on location, leading to a number of risks and a major obstacle to commercial development. By By identifying cutting-edge technologies and research and development opportunities, we hope to overcome obstacles and accelerate the commercial development of this technology,” said Seth Saltiel, co-author of the report. new, said.

By Editor

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