Geothermal power - why isn't it "The" energy solution?

[Corax]

It's still a massive challenge to drill through regular bedrock down to the hot stuff. It's easy at plate edges or rift valleys etc. so that's where most plants are these days. Still, those resources could definitely be exploited more.

Modern drilling tech's making it possible:

For example, Exxon has announced an 11-kilometre (7 mi) hole at the Chayvo field, Sakhalin.

Wiki (sorry)

 

[_pH_]

Not sure...

that appears to be ginuwine geothermal CHP/district heating too! excellent!

 

[WouldBe]

The water comes from the side, from another region.

In geothermal, if you want hot water to come out, you have to resist that pressure on the IN side of the well, in order for hot water not to come out of the OUT and IN wells.

1 way valve.

 

[Crispy]

Modern drilling tech's making it possible:

Wiki (sorry)

Possible, but not cheap.

 

[sus]

North Africa sits on the biggest, driest piece of land on the planet. Places like Tunisia/Libya/Morocco could all be used as potential sites...all that needs doing is some jiggery pokery with EU membership and they're in...

That and building a distribution network across Europe of course...

"Satellite-based studies by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have shown that, by using less than 0.3% of the entire desert area of the MENA region, enough electricity and desalinated seawater can be produced to meet the growing needs of these countries and of Europe."

sourcehttp://www.desertec.org/concept.html

At the World Energy Dialogue 2006 in Hanover speakers from both companies (ABB and Seimens) confirmed that the implementation of a Euro-Supergrid and an EU-MENA-Connection is, technically, entirely feasible.

Saudi also has the cash to invest in these projects now, and have them up and running before they run out of economic oil. They will remain a major player in energy. Unless, like you say fusion is viable within the next 30 years.

 

[Dr Jon]

The Kiwis are quite keen on Geothermal:

New Zealand has nine geothermal power stations. Seven are in the Waikato region. There are plans to build others and expand existing stations, in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Northland regions.

link