💡Subsea Geothermal Plant Demonstrates Underwater Power Potential
Underwater volcano power plant proves concept
TL;DR
Endurance Energy's subsea geothermal power plant, Adélie, generated electricity from an underwater volcano for less than 10 seconds. This marks a significant step towards commercializing subsea geothermal power for island nations.
Endurance Energy's subsea geothermal power plant, Adélie, generated electricity from an underwater volcano for less than 10 seconds. This marks a significant step towards commercializing subsea geothermal power for island nations. The project, located near the Axial Seamount in the northeast Pacific Ocean, showed the technical feasibility of tapping geothermal energy underwater. Adélie used a compact design, leveraging the deep ocean's cold water for cooling and high pressure to maintain system integrity. The test well was just 2 inches wide, compared to typical land-based wells that are 20 to 36 inches across. The company aims to drill deeper wells to increase fluid access and improve efficiency, with plans to deploy a 2-megawatt commercial generator in Tonga in 2027.
Key Points
Endurance Energy's Adélie power plant generated 60 watt-hours of electricity, reaching a peak of 16.5 kilowatts of net power for 8.7 seconds.
The test took place at the Axial Seamount in the northeast Pacific Ocean, almost a mile below the ocean surface, in September.
Adélie used the Regional Cabled Array, a 559-mile network of undersea fiber-optic and electric cables, to connect to the Seattle command center.
The company plans to drill deeper wells to access more fluid and improve efficiency, with a 2-megawatt commercial generator planned for Tonga in 2027.
The test well was just 2 inches wide, compared to typical land-based wells that are 20 to 36 inches across.
Why It Matters
If you're an island nation like Tonga, this is a big deal. The 2-megawatt commercial generator will provide a cheaper, more sustainable power source compared to imported diesel fuel. However, the technology is still in its early stages, with challenges like high installation and operational costs.
Comments
Be the first to comment
Enjoyed this article?
Get it daily. 7am. Free. Reads in 5 minutes.
Join 3,569 builders reading daily.