The big energy transition breakthrough is ... geothermal?

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Any alternative to Wind and Solar is a good alternative to me! Just goes to show; if you want to solve real problems and make a difference, don't become an 'activist', become an engineer!

Nice to have an "unpoliticized" energy source in a time, when technology is "left" or "right". Thank you for picking that topic, very interesting and hopuful.

Thanks, Mallen. I've wondered why we hear so little about geothermal energy, so it's good to see that something's happening.

Colour me unconvinced. Geothermal is notoriously difficult, and I'll give some of the main challenges. None of them are particularly related to how to create a hole, but the challenges are well known Steam turbines in power stations are about 70% efficient (steam power to shaft power). High pressure and temperature purified steam to be supplied at the turbine inlet - such as 300bar pressure (300 atmospheres) and 500degC temperature for a steam turbine driving a 250MW power generating unit. The turbine comprises many rows of blades which need to be smooth to stay aerodynamically efficient and to survive strong enough to withstand the immense forces of converting the steam flow into shaft power (about 30% more than the power of the generator mentioned above). If steam chemistry isn't carefully controlled, the turbine (and other parts of the steam pathway) will be quickly wrecked. You will always see whisps of steam near an operating steam turbine - this is called "boiler blowdown" as the steam needs to be steadily replaced to maintain chemistry. Sticking water down a deep hole to produce steam produces badly contaminated and corrosive steam as it picks up contaminants from the hot rocks at high pressure and temperature. It might be high temperature and pressure at the bottom of the hole, but energy is lost if the steam travels over long distances (cooling) and energy is lost as it is lifted hundreds of meters against gravity. Presenting lower pressure and/or temperature steam to a turbine means the turbine efficiency will be much lower and it then take greater mass flowrate to get the same power. Greater mass flow means faster rate of corrosion if the steam is chemically impure. To protect the turbine, we could have a heat exchanger between the primary source of steam (the hole) and the turbine , but this means more equipment (which is an additional cost) and more energy loss (heat exchangers are not perfect). Geothermal is not easy or cheap. That's why it's not common.

Great video Mallen. Looks very doable.

outstanding news, thank you

If we can get geothermal to work in this way then one of the great benefits will be the equality of energy production. Oil and gas has centred in a few geographical locations causing political upheaval and even wars. Solar and wind are not only intermittent they are not suitable for many countries and do not provide for heat in winter. Nuclear is not only expensive but the number of nuclear power stations globally would be completely impractical and the fuel they use would soon run out when scaled up.

Well done. Thanks! I think that geothermal has a real future. My hope is that our power grid will become decentralized with many sources of production.

Glad you're still making content Mallen, thought you had stopped because you stopped uploading episodes to the podcast feed.

Interesting, hope springs eternal!

One of the biggest issues with geothermal is that the slow transfer of heat through the rock - it's surprisingly slow. So the heat extraction has to be balanced with the collection area/type of rock/heat available. Over extraction will give more power for a while, but it will take years for that heat to return to the bore area. That heat almost always comes from below, so is an area issue, whereas the extraction is usually through multiple pipes in different layers, so is a volume issue. It's great technology, but like wind or solar, it's quite a diffuse power source so it becomes less economical to produce large single power plants.

Appreciate your work bro

In the 90's here in Texas, geothermal in situ for high end homes was available. Negatives being lost efficiency to do shifting soil and the need for a water source to maintain a gradient. You made a lot of good points. I'll add it's very scalable.

I have always been a big enthusiast for geothermal energy, and have never understood why it has been so neglected.

Thanks Mallen, very interesting stuff. And something for optimism!

New Zealand has mastered geothermal harnessing

Here's the problem. Once you have your superdeep hole you still need power to pump your working fluid down there and back up. You use high grade power to get low grade power (heat). There's a reason oil rigs don't try to recover power from hot drilling fluids.

Im very interested thanks Mallen.

Tidal & Geo Thermal are way under invested, but geothermal has very similar infrastructure & expertise to oil, at least in part. Ive been advocating for it in "Green Realsim" circles for years. District heating & industrial neighbours are need to be integrated in the any plans for max usefulness to local communities. Thanks for highlighting it in your inimitable very reasonable balanced style⚖