So the there's a new technology being trialed for deep drilling that could massively reduce the cost of geothermal energy and make it accessible virtually anywhere on the surface instead of just at 'localized 'hot spots' as is the case now. It's by Matt Ferrell on his 'Undecided' YouTube Channel and is another great presentation by him.
Exciting stuff! But they have yet to demonstrate true feasibility - they have only drilled 3 feet, not 20Km. The biggest bit of arm waving I detected was in relation to the pressure needed to keep the hole from collapsing. On a first pass, I would guess that is their Achilles Heel. Not saying it won't work. I hope it does! This could be HUUUUUUUGE! But that is what sounds like a problem. If they can't do it with a liquid, not sure how this is going to work,
They're building a full sized test rig now on site drilling at a geothermal hot spot I believe they discussed that at one point in the presentation. The vaporized rock rises up and as it does it cools & coats the sides of the drill whole forming a lining of hardened glass. They must have done their calculations on how much pressure such a lining could theoretically withstand (and for how long) before even getting funding for these field tests. There would literally be no point to this technology if the math said the lining is likely to collapse under the pressure before or at your desired depth. It if cant take the pressure on paper there's no point even trying. Anyway my understanding is that glass lining only has to last as long as it takes to slide the next length of steel liner into position so it's not like it has to last for years or even weeks. Probably only hours or a day or so at most. Anyway we'll see. I think they start drilling is 23/24. At 5 meters per hour it would only take them a couple months to reach 10Ks (even assuming they were using their drill from the get go which they are not) and they're not even going that deep on the first trial. So we should know one way of the other fairly soon. And if we don't hear anything more? I think it's safe to say it will have crapped out.
Yeah, I watched the entire video. Like I said, they haven't demonstrated anything yet. Also, a glass coating isn't very strong. Replacing the incomprehensibility of a liquid is a tall order. And I saw no independent verification of the claims cited - only the people asking for money. Hopeful but very leery. Drilling a few inches and drilling 20 KM are two different problems by many orders of magnitude of difficulty. I hope he's right! It could change everything!!!
I don't think its 'regular' glass more like volcanic melt and they only have to go 10-12K to reach their desired depth at most locations anyway. Plus as I noted above the first phase of drilling is done the boring (pun intended) old fashioned way.
Caution is always justified, but this sounds promising: U.S. expected to announce major nuclear fusion energy breakthrough The U.S. Department of Energy said Sunday it would announce a "major scientific breakthrough" this week, after media reported a federal laboratory had recently achieved a major milestone in nuclear fusion research. The Financial Times reported Sunday that scientists in the California-based Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) had achieved a "net energy gain" from an experimental fusion reactor. That would represent the first time that researchers have successfully produced more energy in a fusion reaction - the same type that powers the Sun - than was consumed during the process, a potentially major step in the pursuit of zero-carbon power... Nuclear fusion is considered by some scientists to be a potential energy of the future, particularly as it produces little waste and no greenhouse gases. "If this fusion energy breakthrough is true, it could be a game changer for the world," tweeted Ted Lieu, a member of Congress from California ....the quest to harness the power of nuclear fusion for clean energy has led to one of the biggest, longest running collaborative science experiments in the world – an experiment which, like the LLNL project, has taken on new expediency given the global energy crisis.... In March, the White House announced a plan to accelerate fusion's commercial development over the coming decades through continued investment in ITER, and through domestic projects like that underway at the LLNL facility. The White House heralded in the spring fusion's "potential to revolutionize the energy industry, helping combat the climate crisis while meeting the growing electricity needs of the U.S. and the world." [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/u...uclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough/ar-AA15aAom]
