Massachusetts Startup Aims for Revolutionary Geothermal Energy
A Massachusetts startup is poised to delve over 12 miles beneath the Earth’s crust, seeking what industry specialists deem a “million-year energy source” that lies within our very foundation.
According to a press release disseminated by BusinessWire, Quaise Energy has successfully secured $40 million in funding to advance this ambitious geothermal initiative. This funding builds upon extensive research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
If brought to fruition, this groundbreaking vision could radically transform the global energy landscape, providing cleaner, virtually inexhaustible power worldwide. The ambition hinges on leveraging existing power plants, infrastructure, and personnel—an approach championed by Quaise.
Quaise CEO Carlos Araque emphasized the transformative potential of their technology, stating, “Our technology allows us to access energy anywhere in the world, at a scale far greater than wind and solar, enabling future generations to thrive in a world powered with abundant clean energy.”
The endeavor begins with drilling “deeper, hotter, and faster” than any prior attempts, utilizing a unique device known as a gyrotron.
Following initial drilling with standard equipment, Quaise specialists will deploy proprietary techniques employing millimeter-wave technology, reaching astonishing depths.
At approximately 12 miles, temperatures are anticipated to soar to 932 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the startup.
“At these temperatures, geothermal is so powerful that it can repower most fossil-fired power plants around the world. It enables a much faster energy transition,” remarked Quaise experts on their website.
Geothermal science is not novel; already, governmental initiatives incentivize homeowners to adopt heating and cooling systems that harness renewable subterranean temperatures. Notably, Google is investing in this technology to power its extensive database infrastructure.
However, Quaise’s initiative elevates the existing concept to unprecedented depths. Furthermore, the company asserts that it can redeploy oil and gas workforce personnel to generate energy with minimal waste.
Remarkably, this operation could occupy less than 1% of the land typically required for solar and wind energy projects, as noted by Quaise.
Given the significant milestones associated with this endeavor—characterized by the mantra “deeper, hotter, faster”—it is reasonable to harbor concerns regarding the environmental implications of drilling at such depths in various locations globally.
In response, Quaise experts express confidence in their capability to “vaporize boreholes” safely. The company aims to have its inaugural drilling rig operational within this year, with objectives to retrofit a former fossil fuel-burning facility to geothermal energy by 2028, according to Quaise’s strategic timeline.
Source link: Finance.yahoo.com.
