Startup Discovers a Novel Geothermal Energy Source

On Thursday, Zanskar, a company leveraging artificial intelligence, stated it has metaphorically struck gold in Nevada. The startup claims to have located a new hidden geothermal spot suitable for power generation, marking the first of such discoveries in the industry for many years.

This breakthrough is the result of extensive research and reflects a resurgence in interest towards geothermal exploration.

Co-founder Carl Hoiland recalls starting the venture amidst widespread skepticism about geothermal energy. According to him, the field was often perceived as obsolete, marked by numerous past failures. Now, with advanced tools and improved methods, Zanskar believes it is signaling a turning point in the industry.

The Basics of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy, in essence, is one of the most straightforward forms of renewable energy production. Earth’s natural underground heat is harnessed to create steam, which drives turbines with minimal environmental impact. Areas with thinner crusts where tectonic plates diverge are particularly ripe for such potential, such as the extensive geothermal field in California, formed over millennia of hot spring use.

However, a significant challenge remains in uncovering these geothermal resources. Known examples, like hot springs, are rare and often lead to productive energy sources. Many valuable geothermal systems exist far below the surface, hidden from direct visual detection, posing a formidable challenge in pinpointing suitable power plant sites. Historically, many were stumbled upon during unrelated drilling activities.

Navigating the Challenges of Discovery

Joel Edwards, another co-founder of Zanskar, likens the quest for geothermal sites to searching for a needle in a haystack. Only a tiny fraction of surveyed land conceals viable geothermal systems.

During the 1970s energy crisis, government efforts in Nevada sought to augment geothermal energy production grandly. Yet, with scant heat data then, their initiative was deemed sensible. Over time, however, attention shifted, and funding flowed towards other emerging energy technologies, leaving geothermal exploration financially lean and relegated primarily to academic pursuits.

Despite limited focus, scientific experts assert there lies a vast underutilized potential for concealed systems in the western United States. Zanskar’s technological approach, tapping into colossal datasets with AI, aims to uncover such potential.

Technological Advances and New Discoveries

Building on scientific groundwork from researchers like James Faulds, Zanskar developed methods for recognizing hidden geothermal spots. In 2018, such techniques successfully identified an electricity-generating geothermal system in Nevada. Despite its location in a protected wilderness area limiting commercial viability, this finding solidified the potential of such methods.

Zanskar has now substantiated its techniques with consistent site data confirmation, uncovering previously neglected hot spots with commercial potential. However, only recently has the company initiated tests essential to affirm the feasibility of electricity generation.

This year’s announcement represents a critical proof of concept for their technology, though further assessments are needed to determine the power plant’s prospective output based on reservoir characteristics.

A New Era of Geothermal Energy?

Recent developments have sparked enthusiasm for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which create conditions for geothermal energy through techniques akin to fracking. Nevertheless, the potential of undiscovered blind systems remains critical, albeit often overlooked amid this technological push.

While EGS reduces water usage compared to conventional fracking, it still necessitates external water inputs, and the process can trigger minor seismic events. In contrast, traditional geothermal relies on straightforward drilling over natural systems.

Hoiland acknowledges that each engineering advancement introduces cost implications, cautioning against dismissing blind systems' prospective contributions.

Future Potential and Exploration

The potential energy contribution from undiscovered geothermal sources may vastly exceed prior estimates. In 2008, the U.S. government projected a mean power potential of 30 gigawatts from unidentified geothermal systems, comparable to significant electricity provision.

However, Faulds anticipates these figures could be profoundly underestimated, suggesting possible contributions stretching into hundreds of gigawatts. As drilling technology advances, so does the capacity to exploit deeper, hotter geothermal systems.