What about Geothermal?

Ran into these interesting articles on prospects for geothermal energy on a recent New Scientist reading rampage at the university library.  Sounds a lot better than nuclear as a baseload option.

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US Urged to Boost its Geothermal Power Capacity - New Scientist - 23 January 07

"The world's top energy consumer, the US, is leading the way, with 61 projects in the works. This would double its geothermal capacity to more than 5000 megawatts, according to the Geothermal Energy Association, a trade group."

Geothermal Power Plants Could Also Consume CO2 - New Scientist - 08 November 06

"Pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks could simultaneously generate power and mop up the greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel power stations, according to a new study."

Hot Clean Power Under Our Feet - New Scientist - 27 January 2007

"The 18-member panel calculated that there is more than enough extractable hydrothermal energy available to generate the entire 27 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy consumed in the US in 2005.

In fact, a conservative estimate of the energy extractable from the hot rocks less than 10 kilometres beneath American soil suggests that this almost completely untapped energy resource could support US energy consumption, at its current clip, for more than two millennia to come."
 
And the 15-month in the making, MIT study, The Future of Geothermal Energy.

What about Geothermal?

Ran into these interesting articles on prospects for geothermal energy on a recent New Scientist reading rampage at the university library.  Sounds a lot better than nuclear as a baseload option.

 ---

US Urged to Boost its Geothermal Power Capacity - New Scientist - 23 January 07

"The world's top energy consumer, the US, is leading the way, with 61 projects in the works. This would double its geothermal capacity to more than 5000 megawatts, according to the Geothermal Energy Association, a trade group."

Geothermal Power Plants Could Also Consume CO2 - New Scientist - 08 November 06

"Pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks could simultaneously generate power and mop up the greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel power stations, according to a new study."

Hot Clean Power Under Our Feet - New Scientist - 27 January 2007

"The 18-member panel calculated that there is more than enough extractable hydrothermal energy available to generate the entire 27 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy consumed in the US in 2005.

In fact, a conservative estimate of the energy extractable from the hot rocks less than 10 kilometres beneath American soil suggests that this almost completely untapped energy resource could support US energy consumption, at its current clip, for more than two millennia to come."
 
And the 15-month in the making, MIT study, The Future of Geothermal Energy.