Geothermal

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Xholon
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Title: Geothermal
Description: 
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My Notes
--------
2025 Dec 26

I just saw a couple of very recent youtube videos about **Geothermal energy**.
It sounds very promising.

In this workbook, I:
 - collect information and URLs
 - gather thoughts about building a geothermal energy source for inclusion in the Island Game
 - 


### References

() https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy
    Geothermal energy

() https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GCd30CSYa4&pp=ygURZ2VvdGhlcm1hbCBlbmVyZ3k%3D
    How the oil and gas industry can unlock endless geothermal energy
    9 months ago
    DW Planet A


() https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTAeF3Ft6E&pp=ygURZ2VvdGhlcm1hbCBlbmVyZ3k%3D
    Economist

() https://fervoenergy.com/
    Fervo Energy
    Delivering 24/7 carbon-free geothermal energy.
    
    Our mission is to leverage innovation in geoscience to accelerate the clean energy transition
    by providing cost-effective, reliable geothermal energy.

    About Us
    We have pioneered and proven a new approach to next-generation geothermal,
    a 24/7 carbon-free energy resource crucial to solving climate change.

() https://www.quaise.com/
    Terawatts of clean energy
    We are developing an entirely new way to access the largest untapped energy source on the planet: geothermal energy.

    At scale
    Our approach uses the established workforce, assets, supply chains, and regulatory frameworks of the fossil fuel industry. We don’t need to create infrastructure from scratch.

    Equitable for all
    By providing the multi-terawatt levels of energy required to power our civilization, we can build a truly equitable, clean energy source on a global scale.

    Our gyrotron-powered drilling platform vaporizes boreholes through rock and provides access to deep geothermal heat without complex downhole equipment.
    
    Based on breakthrough fusion research and well-established drilling practices, we are developing a radical new approach to ultra-deep drilling.
    First, we use conventional rotary drilling to get to basement rock.
    Then, we switch to high-power millimeter waves to reach unprecedented depths.

() https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaise

() https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eavor_Technologies
    Eavor Technologies Inc. (/ˈɛvər/ EV-ər)[1] is a global geothermal technology company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.
    The firm was founded in 2017 with the goal of producing a scalable form of baseload energy.

    The main difference between traditional geothermal and Eavor-Loop™ is scalability.
    Traditional geothermal energy systems rely on specific geological conditions, such as the presence of naturally occurring hot underground aquifers, to extract heat for energy generation.
    These conditions are relatively rare, limiting the global applicability of traditional geothermal technology.
    The Eavor-Loop™, in contrast, is an Advanced Geothermal System (AGS), or a closed-loop system, designed to operate independently of such geological constraints, offering the potential for broader scalability in diverse locations.

    A report[2] by the International Energy Agency (IEA) describes these advancements as innovative next-generation geothermal technologies due to their reservoir-independent approach.
    These technologies have the potential to expand geothermal power generation and direct-use heating to regions where conventional geothermal resources are unavailable.

() https://eavor.com/

]]></Notes>

<markdown><![CDATA[
### ollama run gemma3:12b

>>> Summarize the current state of geothermal energy.

Okay, let's summarize the current state of geothermal energy. Here's a 
breakdown, covering its status, trends, challenges, and future outlook, 
broken into sections:

**1. What is Geothermal Energy? (Brief Refresher)**

Geothermal energy is heat derived from within the Earth.  It's a 
renewable resource that can be harnessed for:

*   **Electricity Generation:**  Using steam or hot water to turn 
turbines connected to generators.
*   **Direct Use:**  Heating buildings, greenhouses, aquaculture farms, 
industrial processes, etc.
*   **Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs):**  Using the Earth's relatively 
constant temperature near the surface for heating and cooling buildings. 
(This is a *very* different technology than geothermal power plants and 
often gets lumped in, but it's distinct).

**2. Current Status: A Growing, But Still Relatively Small Player**

*   **Global Production:** Geothermal electricity generation contributes 
a relatively small but growing percentage of the world's total renewable 
energy mix – roughly **0.4%**. However, it's a reliable, baseload power 
source (meaning it can operate continuously).
*   **Leading Countries:**
    *   **Iceland:**  The undisputed leader, with geothermal providing 
around 25% of its total energy consumption and over 90% of its 
electricity.
    *   **Philippines:**  Another major producer, with geothermal 
contributing a significant portion of its electricity.
    *   **United States:**  The largest producer in the world (excluding 
Iceland), but geothermal represents a smaller percentage of its total 
energy mix.
    *   **Indonesia, Mexico, Italy, New Zealand, Kenya:**  Also 
significant geothermal producers.
*   **US Status:**  Geothermal contributes about 17% of renewable 
electricity generation in the US. California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho 
are the leading geothermal states.
*   **Direct Use:** Direct use applications are prevalent in many 
countries, particularly in areas with abundant geothermal resources.  
This includes district heating systems, greenhouses, and industrial 
processes.
*   **Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs):**  GHPs are increasingly popular for 
residential and commercial heating and cooling, especially in regions 
with moderate climates. This is a large and growing market.

**3. Key Trends & Advancements**

*   **Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS):** *This is the big 
game-changer*. EGS technology aims to access geothermal resources in 
areas that lack naturally occurring steam or hot water.  It involves 
fracturing hot, dry rocks deep underground and circulating water to 
extract the heat. EGS has the *potential* to drastically expand the 
geographic availability of geothermal energy. While progress has been 
made, it's still relatively expensive and technically challenging.
*   **Advanced Drilling Techniques:** Developments in drilling 
technology (e.g., closed-loop systems, millimeter wave drilling) are 
making it easier and more cost-effective to access deeper and hotter 
geothermal resources.
*   **Supercritical Geothermal Systems:** These systems target extremely 
hot (above 500°C/932°F) and high-pressure resources, which have the 
potential to generate significantly more electricity than conventional 
geothermal plants. Still in early stages of development.
*   **Hybrid Systems:** Combining geothermal with other renewable energy 
sources (like solar or wind) to improve overall efficiency and 
reliability.
*   **Closed-Loop Systems:** These systems circulate a working fluid 
(often CO2) through a closed loop, extracting heat without extracting 
groundwater. This minimizes environmental impact and expands potential 
locations.
*   **Geothermal Anywhere (GA):**  A newer concept involving very small, 
closed-loop systems at shallow depths to create local heat.

**4. Challenges**

*   **High Upfront Costs:**  Geothermal power plants require significant 
initial investment for exploration, drilling, and construction.
*   **Location Specificity:**  High-temperature geothermal resources are 
not evenly distributed around the world.  While EGS aims to broaden 
this, it's still a constraint.
*   **Exploration Risk:**  Determining the quality and accessibility of 
geothermal resources can be expensive and carries risk.
*   **Induced Seismicity (Earthquakes):**  Hydraulic fracturing (used in 
EGS) can, in rare cases, trigger minor earthquakes. This is a major 
public concern and requires careful monitoring and mitigation.
*   **Environmental Concerns:**  Potential for release of greenhouse 
gases (CO2, H2S) from geothermal reservoirs, though typically less than 
fossil fuels.  Water usage and potential land subsidence are other 
considerations.
*   **Regulatory Hurdles:**  Permitting processes can be complex and 
lengthy.
*   **Public Perception:** Addressing concerns about induced seismicity 
and environmental impacts is crucial.

**5. Future Outlook**

*   **Growth Potential:** Geothermal has significant untapped potential, 
particularly with the development of EGS and other advanced 
technologies.  Many analysts predict substantial growth in the coming 
decades.
*   **Increased Investment:**  Growing recognition of geothermal's value 
as a baseload renewable energy source is driving increased investment.
*   **Policy Support:**  Government incentives, tax credits, and 
supportive regulations are crucial for accelerating geothermal 
development.
*   **Integration with Grid Modernization:** Geothermal can play a vital 
role in stabilizing grids with increasing penetration of intermittent 
renewables like solar and wind.
*   **Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE):**  Interestingly, geothermal 
brines often contain lithium, a key material for batteries.  Integrating 
lithium extraction with geothermal operations is gaining interest as a 
potential revenue stream.



**Resources for More Information:**

*   **Geothermal Resources Council (GRC):** 
[https://www.geothermal.org/](https://www.geothermal.org/)
*   **U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA):** 
[https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/renewable-sources/geothermal/](https[https://www.eia.go/energyexplained/renewable-sources/geothermal/](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/renewable-sources/geothermal/)
*   **International Geothermal Association (IGA):** 
[https://www.internationalgeothermal.org/](https://www.internationalgeoth[https://www.internatonalgeothermal.org/](https://www.internationalgeothermal.org/)

Do you want me to elaborate on any particular aspect of geothermal 
energy, such as EGS, or its regional development in a specific area?




]]></markdown> 

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