The Potential of Geothermal Power

EskimoJoe wrote with a link to an AP article about progress in the development of geothermal energy. A Swiss company is competing with another in Australia to be the first to commercially develop a geothermal power plant. The concept is simple to understand: earth's core heat transforms water into steam, which in turn causes a turbine to revolve. The potential, though, is enormous. "Scientists say this geothermal energy, clean, quiet and virtually inexhaustible, could fill the world's annual needs 250,000 times over with nearly zero impact on the climate or the environment. A study released this year by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said if 40 percent of the heat under the United States could be tapped, it would meet demand 56,000 times over. It said an investment of $800 million to $1 billion could produce more than 100 gigawatts of electricity by 2050, equaling the combined output of all 104 nuclear power plants in the U.S."

Global Warming?

[saibot834]

I don't know if this method is supposed to be much more eco-friendly, but to me it sounds like that would make it much warmer up here, on the earth's surface...

I'll take a pass on this one

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, usually I'm all for reducing my carbon footprint, but I've learned one thing from the movies, it's that drilling a hole in the Earth's core is bound to lead to some kind of trouble. Earthquakes, giant mutant ants, ancient evil squids... just about anything could happen.

100 / 1.21

[VirusEqualsVeryYes]

It said an investment of $800 million to $1 billion could produce more than 100 gigawatts of electricity

Cool. Now all we need is 83 flux capacitors.

Bullshit!

[iamdrscience]

This will never work because, as we all know, the earth is hollow.

Re:Huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

A Swiss company is competing with another in Australia to be the first to commercially develop a geothermal power plant.

I think they should go on a trip to Iceland... Frankly...

If they really want to see something interesting, they should descend into the crater of Sneffels [wikipedia.org] which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the calends of July. I have done this.

Arne

Not Worth It

[loganrapp]

Going Geothermal isn't worth the time. Not if you want to Flash rush the Core's Commander.

Re:Huh?

[Curtman]

Why go to iceland when there is New Zealand which already has working and commercially viable geothermal generation.

Why go to Iceland, or New Zealand when you can go to Newfoundland and get pissed instead? Who needs to worry about electricity anyway, Alberta will take care of us.

For those of you counting

[Nodamnnicknamesavial]

That's enough to power 82 flux capacitors!

Re:Bullshit!

[Anonymous Coward]

Hollow? WTF are you talking about? The Earth has a creamy nougat center.