{"id":3029,"date":"2025-07-27T10:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T08:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kraftscharling.dk\/?p=3029"},"modified":"2025-06-18T09:37:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:37:16","slug":"geothermal-energy-breakthrough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kraftscharling.dk\/en\/geotermisk-energi-gennembrud\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Geothermal Energy on the Brink of a Breakthrough?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Geothermal energy has recently experienced major breakthroughs that significantly expand its role in future climate-friendly energy supply. However, it remains capital-intensive and highly long-term.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renewable energy is the Achilles\u2019 heel of the green transition<\/a>. Wind energy was the first wave, followed by solar power. For a long time, it was expected that wave energy would be next. But in recent years, geothermal energy has seen advances that greatly enhance its potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geothermal Energy is Renewable and Ultra-Stable ...<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Earth\u2019s interior has temperatures ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 degrees Celsius. However, the outer 30\u201335 kilometers are covered by a crust. In this layer, the heat is constant, as it is the result of radioactive decay from elements such as uranium, thorium, and potassium. This decay will remain stable for at least another billion years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes the overall geothermal energy potential ultra-stable. Most other renewable energy sources depend on either the sun shining or the wind blowing. The climate benefit is significant, as geothermal does not need to be supplemented with, for example, gas turbines during peak load. There are also major geopolitical advantages, as geothermal energy is independent of imported oil, gas, or uranium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geothermal energy is primarily extracted by recirculating saltwater between underground reservoirs and surface turbines or heat exchangers. Heat exchangers are necessary when drilling depths are \u201conly\u201d a few kilometers deep, such as in Denmark. In these cases, the return water temperature is below 100 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 and Suitable for Electricity Production<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, higher temperatures and pressures are needed to drive turbines for electricity generation. In many locations, this requires drilling deeper than 5 kilometers, but drilling costs rise exponentially with depth. The Earth\u2019s crust is, on average, 30\u201335 kilometers thick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electricity, though, offers the highest energy efficiency, and for a long time, geothermal was considered feasible only in a few places on Earth. As a result, geothermal energy currently accounts for less than 0.3% of global energy production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n