The situation with global warming requires humanity to find a way to have abundant energy without destroying the environment. The problem with wind and solar energy sources is that they are not constant. Nuclear energy (though fision) creates radioactive byproducts that take centuries to become safe. The only source that seems to be both constant and safe is geothermal.
Heretofore, geothermal energy has been expensive when compared to coal, wind and solar. However, breakthrough technology promises to reduce the cost of geothermal significantly. Several companies (Gyroton Technologies, Quaise Energy, AltaRock, and others) are developing Gyroton-powered drilling devices that will blast through rock by vaporizing it. These technologies promise to deliver boreholes deep into the Earth's core in a matter of days instead of years.
Many existing electric generators depend upon superheated steam produced by boilers fired by coal or natural gas. Injecting water into boreholes located next to these existing generators could produce the superheated steam needed to run the generator turbines making coal or natural gas unnecessary. This would also bypass the need to build new and expensive power plants, wind farms and solar arrays.
I believe that deep geothermal offers tremendous advantages over solar, wind and nuclear approaches. It warrants significant government support and investment.
If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions, please send me an email at alan.doering@gmail.com
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