Google pushes for enhanced geothermal

In August 2008 Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, announced more than $10 million in investments in enhanced geothermal systems and put out the call for a big increase in federal funding for geothermal in the U.S.

Their investments are the latest rounds of funding under Google.org’s Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal initiative, launched in 2007. But Google.org is going beyond cash investments and plans to push for a boost in funding for federal research and development, the streamlining of the siting, leasing and permitting process, the extension of tax credits, and the formation of a national renewable portfolio standard.

Enhanced geothermal doesn’t need the naturally occurring pockets of steam and hot water used in traditional geothermal. Instead, it replicates those conditions by fracturing hot rock and injecting water.

According to a 2007 report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on enhanced geothermal, just 2 percent of the heat below the continental U.S. at between 3 and 10 kilometers — depths within the range of current drilling technology — would be enough to supply more than 2,500 times the country’s total annual energy use.

In September 2008 Tata Power bought 10% in the Australian enhanced geothermal systems firm Geodynamics Geodynamics has geothermal exploration interests in three Australian states including a license for exploring 2,000 square kilometers in the Cooper Basin in South Australia. Tata Power said the Cooper Basin contains the hottest granites on earth, estimated to provide a thermal resource equivalent of 50 billion barrels of oil.

Original article: David Ehrlich. Cleantech Group. 19 August 19 2008. Read more…