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I've done lots of interesting projects @TheBTI, but this has been my favorite to date.
We should be talking MUCH more about geothermal energy. It might be only a minor player in the energy transition.... or it could be a force of decarbonizing.
THREAD https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/take-geothermal-seriously
We should be talking MUCH more about geothermal energy. It might be only a minor player in the energy transition.... or it could be a force of decarbonizing.
THREAD https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/take-geothermal-seriously
The TLDR: new technology has made geothermal energy much more accessible, but geothermal is still nascent. If the US makes smart policy decisions, it could kick off deep cost reductions, leading to 100s or even 1000s of geothermal. We should make that reality more likely.
First things first, geothermal is really minor right now (~2.5GW in the US), basically only playing a major role in uniquely-geologically active countries (like Iceland or Indonesia).
It produces about 0.5% of US electricity, and 2% of our primary energy. (from @EIAgov)
It produces about 0.5% of US electricity, and 2% of our primary energy. (from @EIAgov)
Despite that it is LITERALLY CLEAN+RENEWABLE ENERGY, geothermal generally thrown on as an afterthought to wind+solar.
That's a mistake.
As @Sammy_Roth showed, the non-variable (or firm) energy geothermal produces could help prevent future CA blackouts https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-08-19/how-california-can-keep-lights-on-while-meeting-clean-energy-goals
That's a mistake.
As @Sammy_Roth showed, the non-variable (or firm) energy geothermal produces could help prevent future CA blackouts https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-08-19/how-california-can-keep-lights-on-while-meeting-clean-energy-goals
But I'm not talking about boring, has-been (sarcasm), "conventional" geothermal. I'm talking about new, innovative, ENHANCED geothermal (EGS).
It makes geothermal accessible essentially anywhere you can drill a 2 mile deep hole. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/02/the-pros-and-cons-of-enhanced-geothermal-energy-systems/
It makes geothermal accessible essentially anywhere you can drill a 2 mile deep hole. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/02/the-pros-and-cons-of-enhanced-geothermal-energy-systems/
Some places are better than others of course, but in the US, EGS is feasible all over the west. In raw energy terms, geothermal heat could meet the WORLD's energy needs for 600 years.
Same story around the world, 1000s of gigawatts of energy under out feet.
Same story around the world, 1000s of gigawatts of energy under out feet.
Despite the whole, ya know, climate crisis, we haven't really invested much in taking advantage of this energy.
The Department of Energy has spent almost a billion dollars on geothermal R&D since 2006, around half of which went to EGS. That isn't even close to enough
The Department of Energy has spent almost a billion dollars on geothermal R&D since 2006, around half of which went to EGS. That isn't even close to enough
Same story when comparing to other tech. We've spent 10x as much on researching fossil fuels as we have on geothermal.
Seems not smart.
Seems not smart.
To add insult to injury, EGS research dollars are part of what made fracking and unconventional oil & gas extraction possible and cheap.
That in turn made EGS more feasible, but we haven't invested enough to make EGS a player yet! https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/where-the-shale-gas-revolution-came-from
That in turn made EGS more feasible, but we haven't invested enough to make EGS a player yet! https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/where-the-shale-gas-revolution-came-from
We need to fix that, and give geothermal+EGS the chance to upend the energy sector and be the next solar or natural gas with three steps:
1. More EGS RD&D $$$
2. Strengthen deployment incentives for geothermal (like a PTC or ITC)
3. Regulate EGS like a typical O&G company
1. More EGS RD&D $$$
2. Strengthen deployment incentives for geothermal (like a PTC or ITC)
3. Regulate EGS like a typical O&G company
Of those, RD&D is probably the most important right now. That will give us more successful test sites like the FORGE site in Milford Utah. More sites = more chances to fail, learn, innovate, and succeed -- bringing down costs along the way.
That means consistent, long-term, and reliable funding for multiple EGS test sites and public-private partnerships.
Solar, wind, and fossil gas didn't become cheap on accident, it took decades of support. It's time for us to push the envelope on EGS!
Solar, wind, and fossil gas didn't become cheap on accident, it took decades of support. It's time for us to push the envelope on EGS!
The challenge isn't building the first EGS power plants anymore, it's building the tenth and bringing costs down along the way.
If EGS costs fall like they did for solar like @drvox showed a while back, well..... https://www.vox.com/2016/8/24/12620920/us-solar-power-costs-falling
If EGS costs fall like they did for solar like @drvox showed a while back, well..... https://www.vox.com/2016/8/24/12620920/us-solar-power-costs-falling
But again, that won't happen on accident. Solar took decades, and EGS could too. Either way, it's worth investing in to find out.
Shoutout to @TimMLatimer, Melissa Fan (student of @JesseJenkins), Dr. Joseph Moore, and Doug Hollett for their help on this https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/take-geothermal-seriously
Shoutout to @TimMLatimer, Melissa Fan (student of @JesseJenkins), Dr. Joseph Moore, and Doug Hollett for their help on this https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/take-geothermal-seriously
It’s time to take geothermal energy seriously. That means giving geothermal tech a real shot at helping get us to net zero.
A future with 1000s of GWs of geothermal energy in 2050 is by no means certain, but it is possible.... if we help get it there! https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/take-geothermal-seriously
A future with 1000s of GWs of geothermal energy in 2050 is by no means certain, but it is possible.... if we help get it there! https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/take-geothermal-seriously
