The abundant but expensive energy source that's under your feet
Geothermal energy, a renewable source from heat beneath the Earth's surface, is abundant but remains expensive to develop due to high upfront drilling costs. Despite its potential for constant, clean power, technological and financial barriers have slowed its widespread adoption compared to solar and wind energy.
Background
- Geothermal energy uses heat from deep underground (hot rock or water reservoirs) to generate electricity or heat buildings. Unlike solar or wind, it runs 24/7 regardless of weather.
- The article highlights "enhanced geothermal systems" (EGS) — a newer technique that fractures hot, dry rock and injects water to create artificial reservoirs, vastly expanding where geothermal is feasible beyond rare natural hot springs.
- The catch: drilling deep enough (several kilometres) is extremely expensive, often costing tens of millions per well, and the technology still faces risks of induced seismicity (small earthquakes).
- Companies like Fervo Energy and others backed by the U.S. Department of Energy are pushing EGS toward commercial viability, partly driven by demand for clean "baseload" power that can supplement intermittent renewables.