2 ms·

Geothermal Energy Production Heats Up

24 points by kawera 9y ago

cbcoutinho 9y ago
I looked into geothermal energy while going to school for renewable energy. What surprised me at the time, even though it's quite obvious now in hindsight, is how much of the geothermal industry is actually controlled by the large oil/gas extraction companies. As fossil fuels become more scarce, oil and gas extraction has required going deeper and deeper into the earth's crust to reach elusive reserves, and as you drill deeper into the earth the hotter everything gets. This means of course that oil/gas extraction companies are best positioned to transition and apply existing extraction technology into geothermal energy projects. An enhanced geothermal system (EGS), as mentioned in the article, is essentially a fracking project implemented to geothermal systems. This was a disappointing conclusion to my younger idealist self for some reason. As a comparison, solar power is not as reliant on previously developed R&D, and has made it possible for a number of newcomers into the solar energy industry. EDIT: To circle back to what this article was saying, I think the reason geothermal energy has been quiet is because the players in that space don't need attention (read funding). If it's profitable, the people who will implement these systems have the finances and manpower to do it. The geothermal industry is by no means a 'David vs. Goliath' game.
- monus21 9y ago
  In my country geothermal power plants are run by a state corporation. It's definitely not as easy to scale but in an ideal world I would have it over fossil fuels.
- alex_duf 9y ago
  Funnily enough a big bunch of future wind power will be controlled by oil and gas companies as in order to anchor your wind turbine in the deep sea you need the technology and knowledge that was developed by these companies in order to anchor petrol platforms I'm fine with that personally, as long as we put enough pressure for that change to happen rapidly
vilda 9y ago
While cleaner, technically geothermal energy is not renewable. After couple of years the area is cooled down and efficiency drops. For example, one project planned in central Europe is expected to last only 15 years. Then re-drilling is necessary or leaving the drill to re-charge. Among other risks, contamination of underground water and earthquakes are commonly mentioned.
- stareatgoats 9y ago
  Agreed, geothermal in that form is not a good option. They (we) need to come up with a better, more sustainable technology. If found, then geothermal holds the promise of providing all the energy we might need (and satisfy a certain amount of greed as well).

24 points by kawera 9y ago

I looked into geothermal energy while going to school for renewable energy. What surprised me at the time, even though it's quite obvious now in hindsight, is how much of the geothermal industry is actually controlled by the large oil/gas extraction companies. As fossil fuels become more scarce, oil and gas extraction has required going deeper and deeper into the earth's crust to reach elusive reserves, and as you drill deeper into the earth the hotter everything gets. This means of course that oil/gas extraction companies are best positioned to transition and apply existing extraction technology into geothermal energy projects. An enhanced geothermal system (EGS), as mentioned in the article, is essentially a fracking project implemented to geothermal systems. This was a disappointing conclusion to my younger idealist self for some reason. As a comparison, solar power is not as reliant on previously developed R&D, and has made it possible for a number of newcomers into the solar energy industry. EDIT: To circle back to what this article was saying, I think the reason geothermal energy has been quiet is because the players in that space don't need attention (read funding). If it's profitable, the people who will implement these systems have the finances and manpower to do it. The geothermal industry is by no means a 'David vs. Goliath' game.

monus21 9y ago
In my country geothermal power plants are run by a state corporation. It's definitely not as easy to scale but in an ideal world I would have it over fossil fuels.
alex_duf 9y ago
Funnily enough a big bunch of future wind power will be controlled by oil and gas companies as in order to anchor your wind turbine in the deep sea you need the technology and knowledge that was developed by these companies in order to anchor petrol platforms I'm fine with that personally, as long as we put enough pressure for that change to happen rapidly

vilda 9y ago

While cleaner, technically geothermal energy is not renewable. After couple of years the area is cooled down and efficiency drops. For example, one project planned in central Europe is expected to last only 15 years. Then re-drilling is necessary or leaving the drill to re-charge. Among other risks, contamination of underground water and earthquakes are commonly mentioned.

stareatgoats 9y ago
Agreed, geothermal in that form is not a good option. They (we) need to come up with a better, more sustainable technology. If found, then geothermal holds the promise of providing all the energy we might need (and satisfy a certain amount of greed as well).