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The drilling method described is distinguished from conventional methods by being much cheaper, besides being able to penetrate much deeper; and usable anywhere

by ncmncm 4y ago

The drilling method described is distinguished from conventional methods by being much cheaper, besides being able to penetrate much deeper; and usable anywhere with stable geology, not just in a few select hot spots, as now. So, if geothermal can get its operations cheaper, it could be good competition for wind and solar. Once plenty of storage capacity is on the grid, overproducing will not ever be a problem: the grid will absorb as much energy as any well can produce, provided the price is right. This last is why nukes have no future: they cannot produce power at a price the market will pay.

dredmorbius 4y ago
I'll confess to being unfamiliar with the specifics of the technology. I'm also generally favourably inclined toward Homer-Dixon's work. That said, the technical challenges, and costs, of drilling through many kilometers of rock are considerable. As are those of operating geothermal generation sites based on such bores. The far less challenging Habenro project in Australia is a case study of early estimates being proving exceedingly optimistic: I'd become aware of that specific project about a decade ago through ... a highly-positive puff-piece published in an overly-friendly Australian energy publication. The tone and fast-and-loose benefits descriptions set off a few alarms. The project ended up as a failure, the company running it pivoted out of geothermal energy. https://old.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/1wpa90/how_not_to_write_about_renewable_energy_the/ https://old.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/1wpa90/how_not... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/02/geodynamics_habanero_goes_live/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/02/geodynamics_habanero... I suspect most of the other links in my Reddit piece are dead, though archive copies may exist. Energy Watch article archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20130805195650/http://www.energywatch.com.au/news/article/Geothermal_Energy_Plant_Outperforming_Expectations https://web.archive.org/web/20130805195650/http://www.energy... ASX link seems dead. Advertiser on SA Geothermal: https://web.archive.org/web/20130420153842/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/sa-geothermal-explorer-geodynamics-commissions-habanero-pilot-plant-at-innamincka/story-e6fredel-1226611869930 https://web.archive.org/web/20130420153842/http://www.adelai... AGEA: https://web.archive.org/web/20140126042126/http://www.agea.org.au/news/2013/geothermal-energy-heating-up-in-australia/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140126042126/http://www.agea.o... All of that said: - Geothermal does have long-established, well-proven, economical capability. - I'm convinced humanity's energy future will largely be renewables. - The ultra-deep plasma-torch borhole stuff might work. It's something of a longshot though. That said, I'd like to see related technology (e.g., the boring bits) and trial projects attempted. Even the Habenero project wasn't an utter waste --- it was an experiment, just one that didn't pan out. It would have been far more worthwhile for it to have received coverage which portrayed it accurately, however.
- ncmncm 4y ago
  Actually I don't think they will normally (maybe ever?) need to drill down tens of km, or even ten km, to get to enough heat. I would like to see steam turbines displaced by something that doesn't need so much maintenance (high-pressure CO2?), so that geothermal could become more competitive with other renewables. But developing tech like that is no walk in the park. GE will do it when their market for steam turbines starts to fall off, faced with renewables.

by ncmncm 4y ago

dredmorbius 4y ago

I'll confess to being unfamiliar with the specifics of the technology. I'm also generally favourably inclined toward Homer-Dixon's work. That said, the technical challenges, and costs, of drilling through many kilometers of rock are considerable. As are those of operating geothermal generation sites based on such bores. The far less challenging Habenro project in Australia is a case study of early estimates being proving exceedingly optimistic: I'd become aware of that specific project about a decade ago through ... a highly-positive puff-piece published in an overly-friendly Australian energy publication. The tone and fast-and-loose benefits descriptions set off a few alarms. The project ended up as a failure, the company running it pivoted out of geothermal energy. https://old.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/1wpa90/how_not_to_write_about_renewable_energy_the/ https://old.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/1wpa90/how_not... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/02/geodynamics_habanero_goes_live/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/02/geodynamics_habanero... I suspect most of the other links in my Reddit piece are dead, though archive copies may exist. Energy Watch article archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20130805195650/http://www.energywatch.com.au/news/article/Geothermal_Energy_Plant_Outperforming_Expectations https://web.archive.org/web/20130805195650/http://www.energy... ASX link seems dead. Advertiser on SA Geothermal: https://web.archive.org/web/20130420153842/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/sa-geothermal-explorer-geodynamics-commissions-habanero-pilot-plant-at-innamincka/story-e6fredel-1226611869930 https://web.archive.org/web/20130420153842/http://www.adelai... AGEA: https://web.archive.org/web/20140126042126/http://www.agea.org.au/news/2013/geothermal-energy-heating-up-in-australia/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140126042126/http://www.agea.o... All of that said: - Geothermal does have long-established, well-proven, economical capability. - I'm convinced humanity's energy future will largely be renewables. - The ultra-deep plasma-torch borhole stuff might work. It's something of a longshot though. That said, I'd like to see related technology (e.g., the boring bits) and trial projects attempted. Even the Habenero project wasn't an utter waste --- it was an experiment, just one that didn't pan out. It would have been far more worthwhile for it to have received coverage which portrayed it accurately, however.

ncmncm 4y ago
Actually I don't think they will normally (maybe ever?) need to drill down tens of km, or even ten km, to get to enough heat. I would like to see steam turbines displaced by something that doesn't need so much maintenance (high-pressure CO2?), so that geothermal could become more competitive with other renewables. But developing tech like that is no walk in the park. GE will do it when their market for steam turbines starts to fall off, faced with renewables.