Green Energy from Red Hot Technology

Green Google

Geothermal energy is a potential source of clean, green, carbon-free energy and so better for the environment. Google is looking to invest more than $10 million (£5.4 million) into developing this source in new locations where traditional methods have not been applied.

From Google to Geothermal

Traditional geothermal technology harnesses pockets of water or steam that occur naturally deep underground and which bring with them the engery stored in the hot rocks found there.

EGS (Enhanced Geothermal Systems) allows traditional techniques to be used where the rocks are too dry or impermeable to transmit water at useful rates. High-pressure water is pumped down a drilled hole to break apart the rocks. The water temperature rises as it circulates amongst the hot rock.

It then returns to the surface through a well and the energy can be used to provide heat or electricity. Sounds simple but could not be achieved without advances in technology.

The Technology

It was reported recently by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that using 2% of the EGS resource between 3km and 10km below the surface of the USA could supply more than 2,500 times the country’s total annual energy use!

This is a great example of using advanced technology on a global level which is ecologically beneficial. Technology is too often associated with big cities, pollution and waste so think about all the technology you could help invent and design to make sure the earth is still here in millions of years!