One sentence summary – Scientists have proposed a new technique to increase the efficiency of geothermal power plants by adding specific materials or chemicals to control water flow and prevent “short-circuits,” potentially increasing heat extraction by over 65% within 50 years and making geothermal energy more competitive and cost-effective.
At a glance
- Scientists propose a new technique to increase the efficiency of geothermal power plants
- The technique involves adding specific materials or chemicals to control water flow and prevent “short-circuits”
- Modeling studies suggest this technique could increase heat extraction by over 65% within 50 years
- The technique aims to improve the efficiency of geothermal systems and allow continuous operation
- It could make geothermal energy more cost-effective and competitive with traditional energy sources
The details
Scientists have proposed a new technique to increase the efficiency of geothermal power plants.
This method involves adding specific materials or chemicals to the water injected into rock fractures.
The aim is to control the flow of water and prevent “short-circuits.”
“Short-circuits” are a common issue in geothermal power plants that disrupt production and reduce efficiency.
Modeling studies suggest that this technique could increase heat extraction by over 65% within 50 years.
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source with minimal emissions.
However, its efficiency is often hampered by these “short-circuits.”
The proposed technique aims to address this issue and improve the efficiency of geothermal systems.
Currently, geothermal energy producers mitigate “short-circuits” by adjusting water circulation or periodically shutting down production.
The new technique could potentially allow geothermal power plants to operate continuously.
This would make them more competitive with other renewable energy sources.
The technique could also make geothermal energy more cost-effective.
It could make it highly competitive with traditional energy sources.
The research received support from the U.S. Department of Energy.
This underscores the significance and credibility of the findings.
Geothermal power can provide nearly zero-emission electricity.
This makes it an attractive alternative in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
By maximizing heat extraction and preventing “short-circuits,” the new technique could scale up geothermal energy production.
It could also contribute to the broader goal of transitioning towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Article X-ray
Here are all the sources used to create this article:
A group of engineers brainstorming and pointing at a blueprint of a geothermal power plant.
This section links each of the article’s facts back to its original source.
If you have any suspicions that false information is present in the article, you can use this section to investigate where it came from.
| scitechdaily.com |
|---|
| – Scientists propose a technique to enhance the efficiency of geothermal power plants by preventing “short-circuits. |
| ” – The method involves adding specific materials or chemicals to the water injected into rock fractures to control the flow of water. – Modeling suggests that this technique could increase heat extraction by over 65% in 50 years. – Geothermal energy is a promising renewable energy source with nearly zero emissions. – Geothermal power plants can experience “short-circuits” that halt production, reducing efficiency. – |
| The proposed technique aims to prevent these “short-circuits” and increase the efficiency of geothermal systems. – Producers currently adjust water circulation or shut down production periodically to prevent “short-circuits. |
| ” – The proposed technique could allow geothermal power plants to produce continuously, making them more competitive with other renewable energy sources. – |
| The technique could make renewables cost-effective and competitive with other energy sources. – |
| The U.S. Department of Energy supported this research. |
English 
Portuguese 
Turkish 
Chinese 
German