Geothermal Energy

[abyss43]

Does anyone think that geothermal energy might eventually become a major power supply competing with future fusion reactors

[heathfield]

It's a possibility. Plans exist for Iceland's thermal energy to be used for power stations to supply the UK with electricity.

[R1Geezer]

As a Geezer myself I'd say If we can harness it effectivley I don't see why not. Fusion is a bit of a pipe dream at the moment anyway, still a long way to go on that one!

[jake-the-peg]

I didn't realise you were so knowledgeable about fusion Geezer!

Currently the deepest borehole ever drilled was 7 Mlles at that depth the temperature was just 180 degrees.

Because the efficiency depends on the temperature this is not promissing.

I think for the foreseeable future geothermal energy (at least for electricity generation) will be restricted to locations like Iceland and New Zealand where the geology is favorable

[R1Geezer]

well I was really thinking about known active places, Iceland etc. Yes there are huge problems making it "Industrial strength" generally. Similar I'd imagine to the huge problems creating fusion where we get out more energy than we put in. Yes Jake you'd be surprised what lurks in the knowledge of the Geezer!

[jake-the-peg]

It's just that I spent a couple of years working as a physicist on nuclear fusion experiments at Culham Laboratories - maybe I met you there?

Jet at Culham achieved ignition years ago but was never designed for Q>1 ( Q is the power amplification factor Q=1 is break-even ratio of energy out to in).

ITER is currently being built in France to achieve Q>10

First plasma is scheduled for 2016

THe knowledge of Geezer might benefit from a quick shufty around http://www.iter.org

[R1Geezer]

fair enough jake, I bow to your superior experience in this, Although I have a resonable understanding, as break throughs go I rely on the sources of he masses and the occasional documentary. So I didn't know what progress is being made. So willl we have viable fusion reactors at some point then?

[jake-the-peg]

I think so.

They will be big installations and there will be some controversy FOE will find something to object to but they'll come on line in about 30 years (I'm hoping to live to see the fruition of something I was ever so minutely involved in).

I'm rather expecting the world energy situation will be rather bad by then and Global Warming will be biting badly too so I think they'll be between a rock and a hard place.

Providing no idiot gets financial-crash-itis and cans the spending! 30 years away doesn't do it for politicians