Google has proven that it is more than a mere search engine by achieving a feat in the environmental science and technology sector. Google has reached what has been called the most inaccessible place on Earth, and Google has uncovered the biggest treasure of all. Google’s geothermal project has led to the unveiling of treasure that at the moment seems worth more than oil and gold. Google has found a source of limitless free energy. Google’s revelation may not seem like much to many American citizens right now, but it surely signifies a whole new direction in how humans will gain and utilize energy in the future.
Understanding more about Google’s geothermal project
The clean energy start-up Fervo was at the forefront of this particular project, where something new was attempted. Making use of a geothermal system (EGS), Google and Fervo drilled two vertical wells in the most inaccessible place underground and connected them using a horizontal tunnel that stretched for a mile.
The next step entailed pumping fluid into this underground reservoir to heat it to approximately 376°F. This heat led to a steam conversion, causing the turbines to produce electricity. At the same time, fiber optic cables were used to keep track of the system to ensure performance.
The use of a geothermal system led to the production of 3,5 megawatts of carbon-free energy that is believed to be able to provide power to over 2,600 houses. Aside from this new energy reality, Google’s project is further able to power the grid, supporting the Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno Google data centers.
Is geothermal power a relatively new concept?
While geothermal power has always been around, Google’s idea of geothermal power is new. Traditional geothermal plants would work merely underground where heat was accessible; however, with EGS, power can be tapped from a variety of sources, including sources that were initially deemed impossible.
Geothermal has a solid future in the clean energy sector, and it can be seen as the best complement to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. The Senior Director of Energy and Climate at Google, Michael Terrell, stated that the project ensures a supply of clean energy to assist other renewables.
The project’s energy cost is relatively high; however, Fervo’s CEO, Tim Latimer, is rather sure that once the technology for this project improves, the cost will decrease as well. Fervo is already setting its sights on Utah with a plan to launch a 400-megawatt facility there already in the pipeline.
Google’s collaboration with Fervo led to Project Red, which has set the tone somewhat differently from existing renewable energy literature by realizing that America is sitting on a colossal mine at 200ºF.
Where has Google found this treasure?
Google has tapped into this energy potential beneath the Nevada desert. Although Nevada is the initial place where Google started, Google plans to take the geothermal energy game worldwide. Google’s partnership with Project InnerSpace proves that Google is willing to tap into the global aspect of geothermal energy, too. The next step would be to look towards Africa or Asia-Pacific, which would benefit considerably from geothermal power.
Google has gone deep underground and has shown the world that there is energy potential lying beneath our feet. Google has found treasure, and perhaps with that treasure, Google has found a way to explore what we all treasure the most- a clean energy future. By moving forward with the carbon-free motive, Google has reconsidered how we view energy for good, and Google has proved that it can find energy for millennia, even though it seemed impossible to reach there at first.
