The one caveat for EGS, is that, like fracking, pumping a fluid deep underground could dislodge a dormant fault line and trigger some minor tremors. The risk of a major quake, though, is very small.
Yes. The primary sources for Earth’s internal heat are leftover heat from the planet’s formation, and radioactive decay of isotopes. Eventually, the radioisotopes will fade away and the internal heat will dissipate into space. This is has already happened to the Moon. But the Earth is much larger so it will still be a few billion years until the core cools down.
Short version: yes, but we’ll have long nuked ourselves to extinction before that happens.
Available anywhere? Anywhere there is water... and I don't see where the water is recycled back, something concerning when you're talking about Nevada, and even alarming if you're talking about energy intensive things like google operations.
I wonder if there have been studies on the impact of using salt water in land-based EGS. Might be a total bust - on the surface introducing salinated water into the fresh water table might be disastrous - just thinking out loud on whether that is a possibility for solving the issue.
The true test of why fossil fuel use is stupid is asking “What would we do today if nobody had ever discovered oil and coal until now?”
Let’s say everything was powered with renewable clean tech. Would anyone be like, “but wait, I could put controlled explosions into my car, burn coal, wood, oil and gas in my house AND pollute the air and destroy the environment at the same time!? Sign us all up!”
First, you drill into the earth. Next pumping water into bored holes in order to heat said water into steam that will turn turbines in order to produce electricity sounds Chaotically Good to me. The two topics merge very well here and it puts you back into being on topic again. ;-)
Yay, finally some tangible progress in this obvious direction. It's so frustrating to hear about all the $ being wasted on hydrogen-based and, FFS, fusion-based (thanks, John Kerry) pipe dreams, when this tech is here and now and has all the obvious advantages you point out.
Fusion power is only a pipe dream if nobody advances the science. Fortunately there are some forward thinkers out there doing the hard work. We'll get there someday.
I've always been optimistic. But also patient.
My folks put in geothermal heating when they rebuilt their house a bit over a decade ago. It's super cool and has absolutely worked as advertised
They drilled down 7,000 feet? Interested!
Electricity from the the fiery pits of Hades! No good xtian should allow it in their home.
The one caveat for EGS, is that, like fracking, pumping a fluid deep underground could dislodge a dormant fault line and trigger some minor tremors. The risk of a major quake, though, is very small.
I feel dumb for asking but will the heat from the earth ever run out?
Yes. The primary sources for Earth’s internal heat are leftover heat from the planet’s formation, and radioactive decay of isotopes. Eventually, the radioisotopes will fade away and the internal heat will dissipate into space. This is has already happened to the Moon. But the Earth is much larger so it will still be a few billion years until the core cools down.
Short version: yes, but we’ll have long nuked ourselves to extinction before that happens.
heat death is a thing but not in humanities existence - earth will prolly fall into the sun before it cools that much
Probably long after we've gone extinct or hopped off this space rock. Earth is a *really big* place.
Available anywhere? Anywhere there is water... and I don't see where the water is recycled back, something concerning when you're talking about Nevada, and even alarming if you're talking about energy intensive things like google operations.
I listened to the Volts interview. It's a closed system with (I think) over 90% recovery of the water pumped into the ground.
A technology where the waste product is hot springs? Am I dreaming?
I think the only concern for me with this technology is that sources of water in areas like the western United States may become an issue.
I wonder if there have been studies on the impact of using salt water in land-based EGS. Might be a total bust - on the surface introducing salinated water into the fresh water table might be disastrous - just thinking out loud on whether that is a possibility for solving the issue.
Salt and pipes don't do so well together. Ask anyone with a boat.
Seems like the water could be reused...? Haven't read the tech articles so I could be wrong.
Edit: same question plus an answer further down the comment chain
This is much deeper.
Maybe there are deep-seated aquifers that can be utilized. But that too is an issue in some parts of California and Arizona, for example.
What we need over here on the coast is a decent design to convert earthquakes into electricity.
The true test of why fossil fuel use is stupid is asking “What would we do today if nobody had ever discovered oil and coal until now?”
Let’s say everything was powered with renewable clean tech. Would anyone be like, “but wait, I could put controlled explosions into my car, burn coal, wood, oil and gas in my house AND pollute the air and destroy the environment at the same time!? Sign us all up!”
Petrol/diesel has such a power to weight advantage that we're just now getting close with other energy formats for transportation to be viable.
I try to use hand-crafted artisanal electrons I can get at my local farmers' market for all my energy needs.
There's always artisanal nuclear power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79JoqRDhdzU
How do they spin?
"I try to use hand-crafted artisanal electrons I can get at my local farmers' market for all my energy needs."
At first, I read that as "hand-crafted artisanal elections." We're heading in that direction ANYWAY.
Don't get me started about Fiji electrons.
The free-range electrons are getting expensive, though.
I understand it's supply chain issues.
Thanks Obama!
All this talk of hot pockets and steamers is making me hungry
All this talk of hot pockets and steamers is making me wonder about kink shaming.
We don't kink shame around here. We just kink ask why.
That actually sounds like an excellent dinner.
OT: It seems that the office mice that live here on the fifth floor finally found my colleague's candy stash.
Ugh. I'll just commiserate and leave it at that.
Are those mice on the company dental plan? Might get pricey ...
OT: For you D&D fans out there, I've diagnosed myself as Chaotic Good.
Sorry, a joke with a friend that I couldn't help sharing.
Love it!
First, you drill into the earth. Next pumping water into bored holes in order to heat said water into steam that will turn turbines in order to produce electricity sounds Chaotically Good to me. The two topics merge very well here and it puts you back into being on topic again. ;-)
But being on-topic isn't very chaotic.
Imma go lay down now...
Like the Addams Family and Mr. Bean!
Yay, finally some tangible progress in this obvious direction. It's so frustrating to hear about all the $ being wasted on hydrogen-based and, FFS, fusion-based (thanks, John Kerry) pipe dreams, when this tech is here and now and has all the obvious advantages you point out.
Fusion power is only a pipe dream if nobody advances the science. Fortunately there are some forward thinkers out there doing the hard work. We'll get there someday.
Hot Rocks and water? Geez, you'd think Hot Rocks and Coca-Cola would generate more energy.
Or Pop-Rocks and soda...
Dang, that's what I was thinking of. Though there is a candy called Hot Rocks.
That would release more CO2 into the air, though.
Maybe Hooper will cover this in his Friday posting.