Skip to content

Renewable Energy

Tapping volcanoes for superefficient geothermal energy

by Louise Murray 21 Feb 2011
Tapping volcanoes for superefficient geothermal energy
etadshow468 -->

Geologists drilling in the Krafla volcano in Iceland struck upon a high grade source of geothermal energy when their deep drilling well hit a pool of molten rock. These magma wells could produce five times the power of conventional wells as the economics of generating steam from hot geothermal sources improve as temperature and pressure increase.

At 2.1 kilometres deep, and only for the second time ever worldwide, the geologist's drill bit made contact with liquid magma at about 1000 degrees C. Water cooling the drill at 10 degrees had an explosive effect when it met the molten lava, causing the formation of a volcanic glass plug.

The scientists retrieved their drill bit and lined the well with telescopic steel casing, the last 100 metres of which is perforated to allow water or steam to flow upwards. The drilling is part of the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) a consortium of Icelandic power companies, and is co-sponsored by the US National Science Foundation.

Gumundur Omar Friedleifsson is the chief geologist and local coordinator of the project at the HS Orka electricity company in Iceland, 'The beauty of this is that if we can get superheated steam up to the surface, we can do some minor chemical tricks to neutralise the acids and feed it straight into a heat exchanger or turbine,' said Friedleiffsson. The magma generated energy would be much cheaper to produce than normal geothermal energy which relies on rock heated water or steam at much lower temperatures. Conventional geothermal wells produce about 5 MW of energy from 2 kilometres of expensive perforated piping while the 'magma' well could produce 25 MW of power from only 100 metres of holed pipe, enough to heat 30,000 homes.

The project, reported in the March Issue of the Geologist, has generated international interest as shallow bodies of magma should occur worldwide wherever there are young volcanic rocks, like Hawaii, and Indonesia. Wilfrid Elders, a geothermal energy specialist at the University of California Riverside led the research team said, 'In the future these wells could become attractive sources of high-grade energy.'

A third of the electric power and 95 percent of home heating in Iceland is produced from steam and hot water that occurs naturally in volcanic rocks.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping