The abundant but expensive energy source that's under your feet
Geothermal energy is abundant underground but remains expensive to harness due to the high costs of drilling and technology. Despite its potential for providing constant, low-carbon power, widespread adoption is limited by upfront investment and geographical constraints.
Background
- The article is about geothermal energy — heat stored deep underground that can be tapped to generate electricity or heat buildings. Unlike solar or wind, it runs 24/7.
- New drilling technologies (borrowed from the oil and gas industry) are making it possible to access geothermal heat in far more locations, not just volcanic hotspots like Iceland.
- The big tension: geothermal has near-zero carbon emissions and enormous potential (the Earth's heat is essentially limitless), but upfront costs are very high — drilling deep wells can cost tens of millions of dollars per project.
- Several startups and major energy companies are now pursuing "enhanced geothermal systems" (EGS) that fracture hot rock and circulate water through it, effectively creating artificial reservoirs.
- Why this matters now: the world needs clean, always-available power to complement intermittent renewables like solar and wind. Geothermal could fill that gap, but its economics remain uncertain at scale.