Imagine getting electricity from the earth’s core with no pollution. Everyone, especially environmentalists, should be happy.
Southern California Edison, one of America’s major power companies, recently struck a deal with a seven-year-old start-up called Fervo Energy. Unlike traditional methods of producing electricity, Fervo utilizes hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to tap into the earth’s limitless source of clean heat.
This process emits no pollutants and does not contribute to environmental warming. The harnessed heat powers a unique power plant known as an enhanced geothermal system (EGS).
Discovered in 1904, EGSs have taken a long time to use commercially. Italian scientist Piero Ginori Conti from Larderello, Italy, first harnessed geothermal energy to power a small generator, lighting up multiple bulbs. By 1913, Larderello became the birthplace of the world’s first commercial geothermal power plant that produced limited energy.
The big challenge in using EGS is keeping turbines spinning efficiently and reliably. If ways can be found to harness geothermal energy, it could power the entire nation for about the same cost as using natural gas.
That’s where fracking comes into the picture.
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Under CEO and co-founder Tim Latimer’s guidance, Fervo Energy is spearheading an ambitious endeavor to harness substantial geothermal energy from the earth’s fiery core using fracking.
Geothermal energy has traditionally used natural hot water reservoirs to drive steam turbines and generate electricity. However, the limited availability of suitable natural sites makes it difficult for EGSs to supply more than a mere 0.4 percent of the nation’s electricity.
Beneath the earth’s surface, everywhere lies a treasure trove of hot, dry rocks that could be used instead of hot water reservoirs.
Fervo utilizes fracking techniques to turn those hot rocks into artificial geothermal reservoirs by cracking open these rocks and injecting water. The resulting steam can then turn turbines almost anywhere.
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Sadly, geothermal energy receives far less federal support than other green initiative technologies such as solar and wind. Current green energy technologies do not have near the potential to provide sustainable, affordable and reliable power for future generations.
Thus, states like California are increasingly seeking clean energy sources that can operate around the clock. Although wind and solar power have made their mark through government mandates, they still rely heavily on fuels like natural gas for backup during frequent lulls in sun and wind.
Finding a sustainable alternative to petroleum products is crucial for an authentically green alternative; EGS promises to be a stellar option.
Indeed, the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) predicts that EGS could power more than 65 million American homes and businesses in the near future.
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Many obstacles are not technological but bureaucratic. Obtaining permits produces red tape that delays progress. Although EGS could work anywhere, most projects are on federal land. EGS companies use exemptions granted to petroleum companies as a gateway for their own projects. Thus, as California grapples with electricity shortages, regulators are pushing for 1,000 megawatts of clean, constant power to supplement unreliable wind and solar sources.
Engineers also hope to drill near existing coal plants to harness enough steam to fuel their turbines and eventually replace coal. In Oklahoma, oil and gas companies are teaming up to transform deserted oil wells into geothermal power stations.
Despite the federal government’s pivotal role in promoting alternative energy projects, geothermal energy is often largely ignored. While a recent infrastructure bill allocated $9.5 billion for clean hydrogen, advanced geothermal only received $84 million, about 1 percent of the total outlays.
The only ones not on board with EGS are the environmental activist groups. They are lobbying against a plan that would favor EGS by changing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. They oppose these changes because EGS fracking requires a thorough review process for projects on public land. These radical activists are stoking fear that any exceptions to NEPA, even for eco-friendly energy sources, will weaken the overall law.
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These radical activists hate fracking technology even when it provides clean energy. One must ask if they really want to solve problems or have some other agenda targeting all progress.
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