Full Steam Ahead!

Introduction

Hey there, fellow readers, I am back! Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of geothermal energy systems? Let's talk about Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) - the technology that has been around since the 60s, and still doesn’t vote for Bernie*.?

As you might already know because you are faithful followers of my amazing articles, geothermal energy has been utilised from hydrogeothermal resources - natural water reservoirs with extraordinary temperatures. However, did you know that there is a much larger potential hidden in so-called hot dry rocks? These are rocks with a high geothermal gradient, but limited presence of water - and they are EGS!?

Hydrogeothermal

Hydrogeothermal resources are basically like giant hot tubs that Mother Nature has generously provided us with. Except instead of a bunch of people soaking in them, we're using the heat to generate electricity. It's like if the Romans had invented geothermal energy instead of the aqueduct - they could have been heating their homes and cooking their meals with natural hot springs instead of expanding their empire!?

But seriously, hydrogeothermal resources are pretty amazing. They're like natural reservoirs of hot water, just waiting to be tapped into. And unlike a lot of other renewable energy sources, they're not dependent on the weather - the heat is always there, ready and waiting for us to use it.?

Illustration of an Enhanced Geothermal System

Challenges

Of course, there are some challenges to harnessing hydrogeothermal resources. Sometimes the water is too deep underground or too far away from where we need it. And in some cases, the water can contain dissolved minerals that can cause scaling and corrosion in the power plant equipment. But with the right technology and expertise, these challenges can be overcome. And that is what we at GA Drilling have been tirelessly working on for well over a decade now.?

Overall, hydrogeothermal resources are a great example of how we can work with nature to generate clean energy. And who knows, maybe one day we'll be heating our homes with giant hot tubs instead of oil and gas!?

What's The "Fracking" Difference?

I did promise you in the last article that I would explain the difference between “Fracking” and EGS. Fracking has gotten a bad rap because it involves injecting a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground to release natural gas or oil. This process can contaminate groundwater, cause earthquakes, and generally make Mother Nature pretty upset.?

EGS involves drilling deep into the Earth's crust and injecting water to create steam, which is then used to generate electricity. This process doesn't involve any chemicals or the risk of contamination, and the only earthquakes that happen are the result of happy engineers high-fiving each other when they successfully generate power.?

More About EGS

To explain further, EGS is like that shy kid in your class who doesn't speak up much but has so much potential**. And that potential has been recognized by the US government, EGS is among its “Earthshots” - a program aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in energy and climate solutions.?

EGS is not just a theoretical concept - it's already being used in several projects around the world. Take, for example, Soultz-sous-forêts in France or United Downs in the UK - both are successful EGS projects that generate clean and renewable energy. And let's not forget FORGE - Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy - a US-based project that aims to improve the efficiency of EGS and unlock its full potential.?

Alternatives

Just so you know, EGS is not alone in this game - there are also other alternatives like Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) and monobore which we will explore in the next articles. And companies like GA Drilling, the pioneers of this industry, are bringing fresh ideas and technologies to tap into this energy.??

Conclusion

So, my fellow geothermal enthusiasts, let's continue to explore the exciting world of geothermal energy systems, and let's not forget the potential of EGS and other alternatives. Together, we can achieve a more sustainable future!?

Footnotes

* American political joke poking fun of "Baby Boomers"

** Definitely not a reference to the author's childhood.

Links

EarthShots US program aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in energy and climate solutions.

FORGE Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy

United Downs UK based geothermal project

Soultz-sous-forêts?Geothermal project based in France

Video (US Centric)