The Guardian recently published an article discussing how the U.S. is “cracking the code” on how to scale geothermal energy nationwide, and it showcases Eavor as a model for harnessing near-inexhaustible baseload energy suitable for replacing oil and gas.
The article explains that geothermal energy has been historically constrained to specific geographic regions; however, it is now gaining traction as a viable option for providing zero-emissions power. According to Amanda Kolker, geothermal laboratory program manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), geothermal presents a promising solution to meet continuous energy demands. Furthermore, it acts as complimentary technology to intermittent energy sources like solar and wind.
In the western part of the U.S., the potential for geothermal energy is higher, as described by Koenraad Beckers, an NREL thermal sciences researcher.
“Anywhere in the country, if you drill, it gets hotter and hotter with each mile you go deeper. In the western United States, that temperature increases fast. If you drill just one to two miles deep, you have temperatures hot enough for electricity. To get those temperatures in eastern states, you might need to drill miles and miles down, but you can use lower temperatures to directly heat or cool campuses, neighbourhoods and even towns,” said Beckers to The Guardian.
Government support and advancements in geothermal technologies are driving growth in the sector, as evidenced by the Biden administration’s $74 million investment in pilot projects for geothermal systems. These projects aim to harness the vast potential of geothermal energy to power approximately 65 million American homes.
Amidst this emerging industry, companies like Eavor are spearheading innovation with Next-Generation Geothermal technology. Having concluded in December 2022, Eavor successfully drilled the deepest and hottest geothermal well in history, reaching a true vertical depth of 18,000’ and temperatures up to 250°C. The New Mexico demonstration project successfully met all of the company’s objectives, including validating the performance of insulated drill pipe (“IDP”) technology in terms of thermodynamics and mechanics. The project also drew up follow-on investment of $10 million CAD from bp Ventures.
Eavor also secured a cooperation agreement with Sonoma Clean Power to deploy Eavor-Loop™ technology in Northern California, with an aim to work with the GeoZone initiative to supply the region with 200MWe of reliable and affordable energy.
As the article highlights, energy extracted from subsurface rock holds immense potential to satisfy the country’s electricity demands several times over. While the U.S. accelerates its deployment of geothermal projects, Eavor remains steadfast in its commitment to lead the charge in this transformative shift towards clean energy.
