New Geothermal Energy Technology Development

Scientists in the US are developing new cost-effective technology that aims to exploit the earth’s geothermal resources as a source of power. 

Geothermal energy is defined as that produced naturally by the earth.  In the form of steam or of water, this energy can be harnessed as a source for heat for buildings or as a power supply and, since such heat is produced on a continual basis, geothermal is considered a type of renewable energy.

Geothermal Electricity

The US scientists have come up with a new method designed to allow substantially more heat to be captured from the earth, and that has the potential to create almost entirely 100 per cent emission-free geothermal electricity.  Their research is taking place at Washington’s PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), which is operated by the US DOE (Department of Energy)

“By the end of the calendar year [2009], we plan to have a functioning bench-top prototype generating electricity”, project representative Pete McGrail explained, adding: “If successful, enhanced geothermal systems like this could become an important energy source.”

Energy-to-Electricity

PNNL’s energy-to-electricity transformation system will exploit the swift way in which a liquid known as biphasic fluid is able to expand and contract.  The plan involves using heat present in underground water which – in tandem with this fluid – will create power and send it to a turbine, from which electricity can be derived.  The efficiency of this system will be augmented through the addition of so-called MOHCs (metal-organic heat carriers), which will push the amount of power that can be created up to the level of a traditional steam cycle.

“Some novel research on nanomaterials used to capture carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels actually led us to this discovery”, McGrail explained, adding: “Scientific breakthroughs can come from some very unintuitive connections.”

The United States has many areas that could host geothermal energy conversion facilities and this new method has the potential to showcase how use of this type of energy represents a practical approach to fighting climate change.  Boston-based MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) recently forecast that geothermal energy technologies could be supplying one-tenth of the US’ complete electricity requirements by the middle of this century.

See also:

US Government Announces Geothermal Technologies Investment