Photo: Geothermal plant in Bulgaria
The U.S. Dept. of Energy plans to expand use of geothermal energy in regions where it’s not currently feasible, and reduce the cost by 90% to $45 per megawatt hour by 2035. Wholesale electricity prices were forecast to average between $69 and over $100 per MWh in different parts of the U.S. in 2022. Geothermal power plants tap into wells of hot rock and water at least 4,000 ft underground, using steam from those reservoirs to produce electricity. Currently, varying underground conditions impact the cost-effectiveness or viability of geothermal power in many areas, but enhanced systems could overcome those conditions with artificial reservoirs—potentially allowing for construction of geothermal power plants in just about any part of the nation. The U.S. has more than 5 terawatts of heat resources, enough to meet global power needs. Currently, geothermal energy is used to generate just 3.7 GW here.
www.enr.com/articles/54759-us-energy-dept-wants-more-geothermal-energy-technology-development