Articles tagged with "drilling-technology"
New Coal-Killing Geothermal Energy Anomalies Found In US
The article highlights a significant shift in the US energy landscape, where geothermal energy is emerging as a formidable competitor to coal, natural gas, wind, and solar power. Historically limited to a few Western states, geothermal energy is now expanding due to advances in drilling technology and innovative approaches like those developed by the startup Zanskar. Zanskar employs custom-built artificial intelligence (AI) to identify previously unknown geothermal fields more efficiently and economically, reducing drilling costs and failure rates. This AI-driven method enables the company to tap into geothermal resources closer to the surface, making geothermal power more scalable and cost-effective. Zanskar recently secured $115 million in Series C funding led by Spring Lane Capital, with participation from previous investors such as Obvious Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital. This funding will support the company’s expansion across multiple Western US locations, aiming to deliver clean geothermal energy on a gigawatt scale before 2030—well ahead of typical timelines for coal, gas, or nuclear projects. The US
energygeothermal-energyrenewable-energyAI-in-energydrilling-technologyUS-Department-of-Energyclean-technologyThe US Geothermal Industry Is Pushing Into New Territory
The US geothermal industry is gaining momentum as a key player in the country’s clean energy transition, particularly in baseload power generation traditionally dominated by fossil fuels. This shift follows recent federal energy policy changes that protect fossil fuel interests from competition by wind, solar, and utility-scale storage, but leave room for other renewables like geothermal. A notable development is the successful $462 million Series E funding round by US startup Fervo, signaling strong market confidence in geothermal’s potential to provide 24/7 carbon-free power. Fervo’s flagship project, the Cape Station Power Plant in Beaver County, Utah, is set to deliver an initial 100 MW by 2026 and expand to 500 MW by 2028, potentially becoming the world’s largest next-generation geothermal facility. Fervo’s progress is underpinned by advances in drilling technology and support from both government programs and private investors, including Google, Liberty Energy, and global investment firms like B Capital. These innovations are reducing drilling times and improving
energygeothermal-energyrenewable-energyclean-powerenergy-storagedrilling-technologypower-generationGoogle invests in Fervo’s $462M round to unlock even more geothermal energy
Fervo, an enhanced geothermal energy startup, has raised $462 million in a funding round led by B Capital and including investors such as Centaurus Capital and Google. The capital will support the completion of Fervo’s first large-scale 500-megawatt Cape Station power plant in Utah, targeted to be mechanically complete this year and partially operational by 2026, as well as the development of additional projects. Fervo has an agreement to supply electricity to Google’s data centers, reflecting growing interest from major tech companies in geothermal energy as a sustainable power source amid rising data center energy demands. Fervo leverages advanced drilling techniques adapted from the oil and gas industry, enabling it to drill deeper and faster to access hotter underground rock, which increases power output. The company has reduced well drilling times from about a month to an average of 16 days, significantly cutting costs and accelerating project timelines. Currently focused on the Western U.S., where geothermal resources are more accessible, Fervo plans to expand domest
energygeothermal-energyrenewable-energypower-plantsdrilling-technologyenergy-investmentsustainable-energyEngineers unlock deep-earth heat to power a sustainable future
The article discusses the growing potential of geothermal energy as a sustainable and reliable source of clean power. Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the Earth’s crust, generated by the decay of radioactive elements deep underground, to produce electricity and provide heating and cooling. Recent advances in drilling technology and closed-loop systems have significantly expanded geothermal’s viability, enabling continuous power generation with capacity factors often exceeding 90 percent. Experts estimate geothermal energy could supply up to 15 percent of global electricity demand by 2050, offering a carbon-free alternative to fossil-fuel baseload sources like coal and natural gas. Geothermal energy is abundant and nearly inexhaustible, with heat accessible within 2 to 12 miles beneath the Earth’s surface, containing vastly more energy than all fossil fuel reserves combined. It produces minimal emissions, operates independently of weather or daylight, and requires less land than solar or wind farms, making it suitable for diverse locations. Additionally, geothermal systems can efficiently provide heating and cooling through ground-source heat pumps.
energygeothermal-energysustainable-energyclean-powerrenewable-energydrilling-technologycarbon-free-energyUS firm gets funding to test water-jet drill for geothermal energy
Dig Energy, a U.S.-based startup, has secured $5 million in venture funding to pilot its innovative geothermal drilling technology aimed at drastically reducing costs. The funding round was co-led by Azolla Ventures and Avila VC, with additional support from several investors and accelerators, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s EPIC Prize. Dig Energy’s mission is to make geothermal heating and cooling cost-competitive by addressing the primary barrier: the high expense of drilling boreholes. Currently, geothermal systems account for only about 1% of U.S. building installations largely due to the use of oversized, oil-and-gas-style drilling rigs that are costly and impractical for many sites. Dig Energy has developed a compact water-jet drill that replaces traditional carbide bits with high-pressure fluid drilling, cutting drilling costs by up to 80%. This smaller, purpose-built rig is designed specifically for geothermal applications and can access urban and tight sites where demand is highest. By lowering upfront costs, Dig aims
energygeothermal-energydrilling-technologyrenewable-energyenergy-efficiencysustainable-energyclean-technologyGeothermal is too expensive, but Dig Energy’s impossibly small drill rig might fix that
Dig Energy, a startup emerging from stealth after five years, has developed a compact water-jet drilling rig aimed at drastically reducing the upfront costs of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Traditional geothermal installations are expensive primarily due to costly drilling, limiting geothermal adoption to just 1% of U.S. building installations despite its low operating costs and significant energy savings potential. Dig Energy’s rig promises to cut drilling costs by up to 80% by using water jets instead of conventional cutting bits, enabling smaller, more precise boreholes that can be placed closer together. This innovation could make geothermal a more viable alternative to fossil fuel HVAC systems, which account for about a third of U.S. energy use and up to 40% in data centers. The company has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Azolla Ventures and Avila VC to advance its technology toward commercial pilots. Unlike traditional geothermal drill rigs, which are large, truck-mounted, and difficult to deploy in tight urban or residential spaces, Dig’s
energygeothermal-energydrilling-technologyrenewable-energyHVAC-efficiencystartup-innovationsustainable-heating-and-coolingFracking Hydrogen From Rocks: Clever Tech, Tough Economics - CleanTechnica
The article "Fracking Hydrogen From Rocks: Clever Tech, Tough Economics" from CleanTechnica explores the concept of engineered mineral hydrogen production, where water reacts with iron-rich ultramafic rocks from the Earth's mantle to release hydrogen. While laboratory and modeling results show promise for this clean hydrogen production method, significant challenges arise when scaling to field operations. The technology demands advanced drilling, stimulation, and reservoir management expertise similar to that developed in shale gas and geothermal industries. However, the geographic mismatch between ultramafic rock formations and existing oil and gas infrastructure complicates logistics, increasing costs and operational risks. Additionally, the article highlights the difficulty of aligning hydrogen production sites with nearby industrial offtakers, such as methanol and ammonia plants, which are primarily located along the Gulf Coast and Midwest. Transporting low-density hydrogen over long distances or converting it into carriers adds complexity and cost, undermining the straightforward "field to flange" production model. Technical challenges also include maintaining optimal reaction conditions (temperature,
energyhydrogen-productionmineral-hydrogenultramafic-rocksclean-energy-technologydrilling-technologyhydrogen-economyQuaise "Proof Of Concept" Demo Goes Live In Texas - CleanTechnica
Quaise, an MIT spinoff, is pioneering a novel geothermal drilling technology that uses high-powered microwaves generated by gyrotrons to bore through hard rock such as basalt and granite. This approach aims to reach superhot zones located up to 12,000 feet (about 2 to 4 kilometers) beneath the Earth's surface, where temperatures exceed 374º C (700º F). At these depths, water can be converted into supercritical steam, which is highly efficient for generating electricity. Quaise envisions tapping into this vast geothermal heat as a nearly limitless, clean energy source capable of meeting global electricity demands for millions of years. The concept originated from Paul Woskov’s fusion research at MIT, where he realized that gyrotrons—powerful microwave sources used to heat plasma—could be repurposed to vaporize rock and create deep boreholes. In 2018, Carlos Araque and Matt Houde joined Woskov to found Quaise, combining expertise from MIT and the oil and gas industry. Recently, Quaise completed its first proof-of-concept demonstration near Houston, Texas, where their microwave drilling technology successfully penetrated 10 feet into granite within an existing oil well. Although this is an early milestone far from the ultimate goal of drilling miles deep, the company emphasizes its mission to become a geothermal developer providing abundant, reliable, and affordable clean energy worldwide, rather than merely selling drilling equipment.
energygeothermal-energyclean-energydrilling-technologymicrowavesfusion-researchsustainable-powerCuộc đua khai thác năng lượng từ lòng đất
energygeothermal-energyclean-energydrilling-technologyrenewable-resourcesenergy-productionsustainable-energy