Engineers are constructing what is claimed to be the Earth's hottest geothermal power plant on the slopes of Newberry Volcano in Oregon. This project aims to harness the immense energy of the volcano, which already boasts temperatures of 629 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the hottest geothermal sites globally. Mazama Energy, the start-up behind the initiative, plans to elevate the temperature even further, exceeding 750 degrees Fahrenheit, to pioneer electricity generation from "superhot rock".
The potential of superhot rock geothermal is considerable. Currently, geothermal energy contributes less than 1% to the world's electricity supply. However, by tapping into superhot rock and leveraging technological advancements, this share could increase to 8% by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Theoretically, superhot temperature geothermal could generate 150 times more electricity than the world currently consumes. The Newberry Volcano project combines enhanced geothermal energy techniques, involving bringing water to the hot rocks, with accessing hotter rock than previous projects.
A key advantage of "supercritical" water, achieved at temperatures above 705 degrees Fahrenheit and under immense pressure, is that it behaves like a liquid and a gas. This unique state allows it to hold a significant amount of heat while flowing with ease, optimising electricity generation. Mazama Energy intends to drill new wells to reach temperatures above 750 degrees next year, expecting to achieve this at a depth of less than three miles near the active volcano. While the initial goal is to generate 15 megawatts of electricity, there are long-term aspirations to increase this to 200 megawatts, or even theoretically reach five gigawatts.
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