A new green energy project aims to harness the heat from the Earth's core to generate electricity. The Earth's core is estimated to be around 7000°C (12632°F), hotter than the surface of the sun. According to Paul Woskov, a fusion research engineer at MIT University, if just one-thousandth of this heat is utilized, it could supply the entire world's energy needs for over 20 million years.
Currently, geothermal energy is mainly used in regions with natural hot springs, such as Turkey. However, a new startup, Quaise, is working on a project to drill ultra-deep holes (up to 20 km deep) to access geothermal energy worldwide. They plan to use advanced technology, including high-powered millimeter waves, to melt through rock and create holes for geothermal power plants.
The project aims to convert existing coal-fired power plants into geothermal power plants, reducing pollution and energy costs. The technology has the potential to provide clean energy, mitigate global warming, and even reduce the likelihood of wars over energy resources. While there are potential risks and challenges, the project's developers claim that the benefits outweigh the risks, and they are working to address concerns and ensure the technology's safety and efficiency.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Earth's core is approximately 70% of the radius of the Moon.
2. The temperature of the Earth's core is around 7000°C (12632°F).
3. The surface of the sun has a temperature of 5500°C (9932°F).
4. The Earth's crust varies in thickness between 5 and 75 km (3.1 miles to 47 miles).
5. The thinnest parts of the Earth's crust are usually deep in the ocean.
6. The Kola Super Deep Borehole, a Russian project, reached a depth of 12,289 m (40,318 feet) in 20 years.
7. The drilling project ran out of money and was closed.
8. The temperature at the bottom of the Kola hole was expected to be around 100°C but was found to be closer to 180°C.
9. Researchers are testing the use of directed energy beams to heat, melt, refract, and vaporize rocks for drilling.
10. A startup in Silicon Valley has developed a robot called "Swifty" that can melt rocks without touching them.
11. The US energy department published a 206-page report on the use of high-frequency energy beams for drilling.
12. The report shows that it is possible to use high-frequency energy beams to drill holes in rocks.
13. Private companies have been working on the technology since 2014, but progress has been slow due to the high cost and inefficiency of laser technology.
14. Researchers have found a solution in the field of nuclear fusion, specifically in the development of advanced gyrotrons.
15. Quaise, a company founded by MIT University's Center for Plasma Science and Fusion, is working on ultra-deep geothermal energy.
16. The company plans to drill holes up to 20 km (12.4 miles) deep, much deeper than the current record.
17. The temperature at the bottom of the hole is expected to reach 500°C (932°F).
18. The company aims to build the first prototype by 2024 and operate the world's first "super-hot geothermal system" by 2026.
19. The commercial strategy involves converting coal-fired power plants to use geothermal energy.
20. There are over 8,500 coal-fired power plants worldwide, which will be phased out by 2050 due to measures against global warming.
21. Recycling these plants to use geothermal energy could provide a low-cost solution for energy production.
22. The Kardashev scale measures the technological development of civilizations based on their energy consumption.
23. Project leaders have answered questions about the potential risks and consequences of the ultra-deep geothermal energy project.
24. They state that the risk of an earthquake blocking the hole is low, and the holes are expected to last between 50 and 100 years.
25. The risk of releasing magma and creating a man-made volcano is not possible, as any magma entering the hole would solidify within the first few meters.
26. The project is not expected to contribute significantly to global warming, as the Earth already leaks 40 TW of energy from within through volcanoes or other forms.
27. The technology can be adapted to shallower holes to provide warm water, starting from depths of 100 meters (328 feet).