Energy from the Earth's interior can produce insane amounts of power.
clean energy alternative when compared to solar and wind energy which are highly fluctuating in nature and depend upon the external environment conditions. The interior parts of the Earth are not much affected by external atmospheric factors. Therefore, the proposed EGS can function as a better and more reliable power source and energy storage solution than any wind or solar farm.
When asked about the limitation of the technology, Ricks explained, “our study is based on simulations of geothermal reservoirs, and the performance of EGS in-reservoir energy storage can only be verified through true at-scale field testing. We also only assess the value of storage for individual geothermal plants and do not explore the implications for the electricity system as a whole.”
The research shows that EGS can provide significantly more value than previously assumed, and may prove to be a motivation for greater investment in the technology. Ricks believes that if the technique is successfully demonstrated in the field, the additional value gained could even help EGS power plants to compete in the electricity market.of decarbonized electricity systems as a whole, allowing geothermal plants to store up their energy during times when wind and solar generation is plentiful and release it when it is most needed.
The findings from this initial research have also motivated a follow-on project aiming to demonstrate in-reservoir energy storage in the field, which has received $4.5 million in funding from the US Department of Energy. The researchers are currently working on the follow-up study and will release the same shortly.