Magma borehole promises unlimited energy

Scientists in Iceland plan to drill into a volcanic magma chamber in a $25m bid to tap an unlimited clean energy supply, and potentially forecast future eruptions


ATLANTIC OCEAN
North American Plate
Eurasian Plate
Krafla volcano
ICELAND
Reykjavik
Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Krafla located on fault line between tectonic plates. Drilling in 2009 accidentally hit magma chamber – confirming likelihood of eruption is low


SUPERCRITICAL ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM

Supercritical water

Pressure
220 Bar
Water
Ice
Super-critical
Steam 
373 ̊C
Temperature

At 373 ̊C, 220 Bar pressure, water holds properties of both liquid and gas


Typical geothermal systems use natural water vapour at only 250 ̊C to spin turbine

1 
2.1km deep Magma chamber over 1,000 ̊C
2 3 
3 2009: Drilling aimed to find natural reservoir of supercritical water above large magma chamber at 4.5km deep

1 Cold water pumped into non-porous rock layers

2 Water heated as it flows through natural fractures

3 Supercritical water pumped to surface – powers turbines at double normal efficiency


Sources: New Scientist, Energy Monitor, Science
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