Enhanced Geothermal Systems have the potential to produce “effectively unlimited” renewable energy. It does this by drilling much deeper than conventional geothermal, harnessing the heat in the earth to create steam to power the turbines. As for the possibility of increased earthquake risk, Altarock President Susan Petty says in a SolveClimate interview, don’t drill where there are major faults.
Still, EGS depends on the somewhat alarming process of deliberately creating massive rock fractures miles deep within the earth. However, part of the narration in the video is by now-Energy Secretary Stephen Chu, who certainly doesn’t seem the type to back flaky or dangerous technologies.
Between EGS, ocean power, wind, and solar, we have the ability to create enormous amounts of clean, renewable energy.
“…somewhat alarming process of deliberately creating massive rock fractures miles deep within the earth…”
*Somewhat*? I’m going to say this when I hear about the devastating earthquake that levels [fill-in-the-blank-location]: gosh, that’s *somewhat* expected news.