Geothermal energy breakthrough made in Iceland

January 27, 2014 0 By Stephen Vagus

Iceland makes major progress on the geothermal power front

Geothermal Energy - Magma-Powered Geothermal SystemGeothermal energy typically receives little attention when compared to other forms of clean power, such as wind and solar. This is partly due to how expensive this form of energy still is while other forms of renewable energy continue to become more affordable. Geothermal energy does represent a great deal of potential, however, and could help the world move away from fossil-fuels effectively over the coming years. As countries begin to expand their focus on clean power, promising geothermal projects are beginning to garner more attention.

Project becomes world’s first magma-powered geothermal system

Iceland has become home to a significant breakthrough in geothermal power. Two years ago at a project that took place in Kfrafla, in the northeast reaches of the country, engineers drilled a borehole that uncovered magma at a depth of 2,100 meters — something that had happened only once before in Hawaii. The temperature of the magma exceeded 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, providing engineers with a promising opportunity to test a magma-powered geothermal system.

Magma-powered system boasts of significant energy potential

The University of California has released information concerning the project and how it effectively produced the world’s first magma-enhanced geothermal system. Over the past two years, the borehole has been producing superheated steam that has been used to generate electrical power as well as heat that could be used for various purposes. In July 2012, the project was shut down temporarily in order to replace surface equipment and conduct further research concerning the energy potential of the project.

Iceland continues to heavily invest in geothermal power as a replacement for fossil-fuels

A similar project is currently under development from the National Energy Authority of Iceland. This project is called the IDDP-2 and is taking root in the southwest parts of the country. This project aims to find the same success that its predecessor had in the past and will become the world’s second magma-powered geothermal system. Iceland has a strong focus on geothermal energy and has been investing heavily in projects that attempt to tap into the power generation potential of the planet.

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