Digging a hole for energy storage

Could geothermal power be the deepest hole on Earth?

The deepest hole on Earth: Inside the race to harness unlimited power from our planet's core While harnessed geothermal heat help plants grow at the Eden Project, advanced new technology could turn it into a renewable source of clean, green energy for all. Photo credit: Anson Chan Jheni Osman Published: December 14, 2024 at 10:00 am

What is the deepest hole on Earth?

But that's harder than it sounds. The Earth's crust varies in thickness from about 5 to 75 km (3 to 47 miles), with the thinnest parts tending to be way out in the deep ocean. The deepest hole humanity has ever managed to drill is the Kola Superdeep Borehole.

How deep is quaise drilling?

To do so, Quaise plans on drilling holes at least twice as deep as the deepest holes ever created (i.e. Russia’s Kola Superdeep Borehole and Qatar’s Al Shaheen oil well, each of which sit at about 7.5 miles deep), which, according to CEO Carlos Araque, would generate power “at a scale far greater than wind and solar.”

What is energy storing process?

Here, the main energy-storing process occurs when electricity is used to compress a gas, like argon, to a high pressure, heating it up; electricity is generated when the gas is allowed to expand through a turbine generator.

How does repurposing old coal mines work?

Heat from Earth is absorbed by the brine, which then goes through a process that allows the heat to be used to warm water and buildings. Repurposing old coal mines Around 25% of the UK population live above abandoned coal mines. Most of these old mines are flooded, which provides great opportunities for geothermal energy production.

Which fossil fuels pick up the slack in long-duration energy storage?

In the absence of cost-effective long-duration energy storage technologies, fossil fuels like gas, oil, and coal (shown in orange, brown, and dark grey, respectively) often pick up the slack during such periods. (Image credit: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE)