Better data tools for a bigger geothermal future
Monday, February 16, 2015 - 09:00
in Physics & Chemistry
To fully realize the potential of harnessing energy from the heat within the earth will require a far more detailed understanding of what's going on down there than scientists currently have. And beyond naturally occurring geothermal systems, man-made ones that emulate them could, by some conservative estimates, produce a total of 100 gigawatts of cost-competitive electricity over the next 50 years. But to get there, energy providers will need sophisticated systems for gathering and analyzing data about the rock mechanics and hydrology at work.