American company Quaise Energy is developing a new way to access the largest untapped energy source available. It will use established production methods of the fossil fuel industry, but the technology employed is new. Quaise intends to use beams of energy to vaporize bore holes through rocks and access deep geothermal heat.
Based on breakthrough fusion research and well-established drilling practices, we are developing a radical new approach to ultra-deep drilling. First, we use conventional rotary drilling to get to basement rock. Then, we switch to high-power millimeter waves to reach unprecedented depths.
By going deep, we can tap into the Earth’s heat from anywhere on the globe and use that energy for heating and electricity generation.
Quaise plans to use a gyrotron, a device that emits high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Today, the fusion power industry uses gyrotrons to heat plasma to 100 million °C, but Quaise plans to use them to blast, melt, and vaporize rock. This could, in theory, make drilling faster and more economical, allowing for geothermal energy to be accessed anywhere.
Quaise was founded in 2018 as a spinout of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
Quaise demos maser drill bit to go deeper than humans have ever gone.
Categories: Energy, Geothermal
in-sights.ca 
Interesting … Cost? Energy to melt rock? Emissions from vapourized rock? “Proven technology” or like carbon capture? If it were a stock on the VSE, I’d be a little wary… cheers, Roger
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Your skepticism is appropriate but when MIT reports this and it is a product of 18 years of research at the institution, I have some confidence that it is a real possibility.
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Excuse my simple mind, but what do we know about a mass release of energy from the earths core. How will that affect volcanic activity, geologic activity due to changes in the earths core, and the earth itself.
Done on a mass scale what would be the repercussions. Has anyone examined possible scenarios?
It would be nice for a change if we foresee what problems something we do to the earth is studied before we rush to implement.
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Science says definitively that use of fossil fuels threatens the liveability of earth and much of the population and almost all governments care little. So, we should start worrying about harvesting heat from below the surface of the earth?
Equipment capable of melting granite has been used in many places for many years. Deep drilling is another application of the technology.
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On the question of “what do we know about a mass release of energy from the earths core”
Unless there’s been a conspiracy of cartographers there’s an island in the Atlantic called Iceland. A century of their geothermal data is available.
Icelanders began to use geothermal in 1907. Due south there’s California. Since the 1960s they’ve been using geothermal energy while selling fossil fuels as well. Recently in the US there’s been a rapid expansion of geothermal operations.
Geothermal works like this – drill down until earth’s heat is higher than 212 F or 100 C (water boils). To that depth send a fluid down to where it will boil. This produces steam. Use the steam to spin a turbine to produce electricity. As the Icelanders do use the electricity to power homes and businesses. Need more money? Extend undersea cables and sell the power abroad.
OK, but what’s good about this as an energy source?
1/ It’s available whether the sun’s out or or the wind blows.
2/ You can store unused power in batteries. Use it later.
3/ Power is available for as long as the planet exists.
4/ Compared to every fossil fuel you can shake a stick at it’s cheap once you get it going.
5/ No country can be held hostage if a fossil fuel is dangled as “available for the right price”.
6/ No other country can claim you can’t own your own energy.
https://greenfieldesg.com/how-deep-for-geothermal/
Low-Temperature 10 – 400 Heating (residential, greenhouse)
Medium-Temperature 400 – 3,000 Direct use, district heating
High-Temperature 3,000 – 30,000 Electricity generation
System Type Typical Depth (feet) Comments
Ground Source Heat Pumps 100 – 400 Shallow installation, minimal drilling required.
Direct Use Systems 1,000 – 3,000 Requires accessible geothermal fluids.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems 3,000 – 10,000 Requires significant drilling/fracturing
Geothermal Power Plants 3,000 – 10,000 Deep wells needed for high-temperature steam.
How deep is the Core? Great question.
Core-Mantle Boundary: The outer core begins around 1,795 miles below Earth’s surface.
Inner Core Boundary: The inner core is located at a depth of about 3,200 miles.
Center of the Earth: The innermost part, the solid inner core, has a radius of approximately 758 miles.
“The deepest hole ever drilled by humans, the Kola Superdeep Borehole, is only about 12 km deep,”
Do the math. 1,795 miles or 30,000 feet. If the core-mantle boundary is never reached how can there be core “repercussions? Why would anyone ever drill as deep as the core-mantle boundary?
“Has anyone examined possible scenarios?”
“As of the end of 2024, 35 countries are producing geothermal power, with a total installed capacity of 16,873 MW globally.”
It’s a guess but I can’t imagine any country planning to use geothermal power not examining possible scenarios.
More questions?
See?
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/money/us-proposes-500-tariff-on-india-china-brazil-over-russian-oil-risking-global-trade-war/vi-AA1My4QR?ocid=BingHp01&t=6#details
While the Trump and Starmer administrations are preoccupied with scandals, statistics and homicides China has a rather huge plan in mind. Construct a kilometer-wide solar platform in space to capture the sun’s energy, convert the energy, and transfer it 36,000 kilometers down to earth.
One claimed advantage: “it could outproduce all oil.” Implications? For China an end of fossil fuel dependency. Wealth production in fossil fuel selling nations would tank. Chinese energy dominance would boost Chinese industrial growth..
Could Western nations do this? Why would they? Heard of anything comparable?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/china-leads-the-world-toward-a-green-future/ar-AA1MbPKS?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=196ae4138732429cbc35d079037f2ef4&ei=33
“A new report from research firm Ember says that China, and China alone, has the capacity to increase the world’s use of green energy. Other large nations, including the EU, the US, and India, are driving clean energy in reverse. This threatens to trigger quickening global warming and severe weather events”.
“In its paper titled, “China Energy Transition Review 2025,” Ember researchers point out that
“China’s surge in renewables and whole-economy electrification is rapidly reshaping energy choices for the rest of the world, creating the conditions for a decline in global fossil fuel use” It is an extraordinary turn of events, since China was the world’s largest polluter for decades.”
“In a 57 page report, Ember lays out its case. China has electrified much of its transportation infrastructure and many of its industries. It has strengthened its grid. All of these are in the name of creating a point of fossil fuel peak use.”
“In 2024, China’s electricity driven by wind and solar rose 25% from 2023. In the first half of this year, it increased by 27% compared to the same period last year.
“Just four years ago, wind and solar generated half as much electricity as other clean sources combined.” Imports of fossil fuels are falling. For years, China was the largest importer of oil.”
If interested here’s the report:
Click to access China-Energy-Transition-Review-2025.pdf
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It matters who you elect..
https://ember-energy.org/latest-updates/24-hour-solar-now-economically-viable-for-the-worlds-sunniest-regions/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/china%E2%80%99s-artificial-moon-how-it-could-change-life-on-earth/vi-AA1E54mI?ocid=BingNewsSerp#details
Twenty-four hour solar? Already happening. Just not where politicians deliberately intervene.
Unfortunately the MSN video isn’t dated. Thus when it lists the US as among many nations actively supporting 24 hr. solar development no one anticipated the damage a second Trump Administration would do to Science.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-electricity-prices-wind-solar-7c089e33bf237a218f7ea9fe54ecb019
“WASHINGTON (AP) — With electricity prices rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, President Donald Trump has lashed out at renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, blaming them for skyrocketing energy costs.”
“Trump called wind and solar power “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!” in a social media post and vowed not to approve wind or “farmer destroying Solar” projects. “The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social site.”
“Energy analysts say renewable sources have little to do with recent price hikes, which are based on increased demand, aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events such as wildfires that are exacerbated by climate change.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq80ygdd3zlo
“Solar power continues to be the fastest-growing energy source, with the amount of electricity it generates doubling in the last three years.”
Who isn’t interested in renewables?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3374ekd11po
“BP has announced it will cut its renewable energy investments and instead focus on increasing oil and gas production.”
The energy giant revealed the shift in strategy on Wednesday following pressure from some investors unhappy its profits and share price have been lower than its rivals.
“BP said it would increase its investments in oil and gas by about 20% to $10bn (£7.9bn) a year, while decreasing previously planned funding for renewables by more than $5bn (£3.9bn).”
“The move comes as rivals Shell and Norwegian company Equinor have also scaled back plans to invest in green energy and US President Donald Trump’s “drill baby drill” comments have encouraged investment in fossil fuels.”
Of course the UK public is indifferent about .. oh wait .. the public isn’t indifferent.
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/50098-support-for-nationalising-utilities-and-public-transport-has-grown-significantly-in-last-seven-years
In 2024
“Most Britons say utilities and public transport should be run in the public sector
“Do you think the following should be nationalised and run in the public sector, or privatised and run by private companies?”
Public sector:
89% – Police
87% – National Health Service
86% – Armed Forces
85% – Schools
82% – Water Companies
76% – Railway Companies
75% – Royal Mail
71% – Energy Companies
66% – Bus Companies
62% – BBC
60% – Universities
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As an inspiration to other nations pondering how to manage new green energy consider this…
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/octopus-energy-greg-jackson-wind-farms-climate-b2828421.html
“The boss of Britain’s biggest energy provider says households are facing higher bills because of a “racket” where wind farms are paid to stop producing power.”
“There are 2,500-plus wind farms across the UK – mainly in Scotland, Yorkshire and the North East – which are key to Labour’s pledge to decarbonise the country’s electricity sector by 2030, with more planned after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer lifted a ban on new onshore sites in England.”
“But speaking to The Independent, Greg Jackson, the founder and chief executive of Octopus Energy, said insufficient infrastructure to carry electricity produced by wind farms is forcing them to shut down, which is adding costs to consumers.”
“It is because the National Energy System Operator (Neso) pays wind farms for the amount of energy they would have created when off they have to shut down, and then has to shell out on alternative energy sources, such as from gas-powered stations, to fill the gap on the national network.”
“Mr Jackson, whose company invests in wind farms and is a leading advocate of transitioning to green power, put the cost of the policy at £1bn already since January this year. This compares to £1.2bn across all of 2024, and £780m in 2023.”
The regulator pays you to shut down, them pays someone else to provide power? Doubling the cost to consumers?
Impressive reasoning. No?
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Hold on. I think I’ve seen this movie.
For those familiar with Stalin and his top brass the name Trofim Lysenko will ring a bell. His fame? Whatever Stalin claimed was Science Mr. Lysenko “proved” was Science. Or else…
https://www.thecollector.com/trofim-lysenko-controversial-scientist-soviet-union/
“Lysenko’s critics argued that his data was not based on an understanding of genetics. In response Lysenko rejected the concept of genes as a so-called bourgeois invention and proposed a new discipline of Marxist genetics that would emphasize environmental influences on organisms. He ignored the spontaneous mutations theory that Darwin proposed, declaring that, “science is the enemy of randomness.””
“With the support of Joseph Stalin, Lysenko transformed his scientific theories into a political movement known as “Lysenkoism,” which opposed science-based agriculture and genetics. Lysenkoism rejected natural selection in favor of Lysenko’s own theories and techniques like grafting and vernalization. In the name of Lysenkoism over 3,000 traditional biologists were dismissed, imprisoned, or executed during Stalin’s great purge.”
“This loss of talented minds severely impacted Soviet genetics research and other biological fields. Perhaps the most notable victim of Lysenkoism was Lysenko’s former mentor, Nikolai Vavilov, who was imprisoned and died in captivity.”
Watching President Trump at the UN – without a hint of proof and ad libing due to a frozen Teleprompter – he insisted that climate change was a hoax and green energy a ruinous scam. It reminded me of something a Lysenkoist would claim. Except that Lysenko did have some awareness of science.
Following Mr. Trump’s rant surely alarmed voices in the scientific community would respectfully inform Mr. Trump that he was misinformed.
But before that happened his Energy Secretary, Mr Chris Wright, interjected.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/energy-secretary-give-trump-a-hero-of-the-climate-award/
“NEW YORK — Energy Secretary Chris Wright lauded President Donald Trump as a climate champion Wednesday on the heels of the president’s comments to world leaders that global warming is “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.””
“Speaking at a climate event hosted by The New York Times, Wright told the crowd, “I’m going to suggest you might, five years from now, give President Trump the hero of the climate award, because in the Trump administration, you will see more downward movement in greenhouse gas emissions globally and in the United States than any other leader in history.””
“Wright’s comments followed Trump’s speech to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday where the president told global leaders that the “‘carbon footprint’ is a hoax made up by people with evil intentions, and they’re heading down a path of total destruction.””
Prior to his medal request Mr. Wright said this:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/u-energy-secretary-chris-wright-194729305.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFGOi4vzcantvjKNp2HiLl4GDWWQjeFVGalcIZuCIW_7U7WD0NB0SeCe695vpAtCCknnS0KrWXOWmqSguk5GqEMIGdPoD4NCiHX04LjqsfoNu-X-1vfEVJ5mD6MwuXquEygd3nHKeqbfW2_0AGQa3SUeN_7OgNPiGNk1O9rl5Yh-
“AMES — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said Thursday during a visit to Ames National Laboratory that he supports the development and research of clean energy sources — but also said he believes the ending of some federal supports for industries like solar and wind energy has come at the right time.“
“Several parts of the budget reconciliation law signed by President Donald Trump change clean energy programs created through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the flagship legislation of former President Joe Biden. The “big, beautiful” law takes funding out of some of these programs, in addition to ending or phasing out clean energy tax credits, shortening the qualification window for wind and solar projects and terminating rebates this year for purchase of electric vehicles and energy efficient home upgrades.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/04/orsted-revolution-wind-trump-administration-00543607
“Blue state attorneys general and the companies building the nearly completed Revolution Wind project are suing the Trump administration for its order halting work on the project off the coast of New England — escalating the fight over the stalled project that is at the center of the administration’s efforts to restrict offshore wind.”
“Revolution Wind — a joint venture between the Danish wind giant Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables — filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday seeking to vacate the stop-work order from Trump’s Interior Department, arguing that the administration lacked the legal authority for the decision.”
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Our PM, Mr. Carney, says he is determined to make Canada an “Energy Superpower” but his boast may be less plausible due to what he hasn’t been told is happening in the energy sector.
That conceded, both Newfoundland and Alberta will love his promise. But excluding energy innovation and competition from the debate may prove reckless.
The problem? The planet’s current energy giants are rethinking how solar energy is gathered. Imagine the sun’s rays no longer beamed from the Sun only to solar panels on earth, but instead captured in space then transmitted as microwaves from huge geosynchronous arrays down to huge energy transmission hubs.
You’d think that as the former head of the Bank of England, Mr Carney, would be kept aware that the UK is already aiming to master this.
Here’s three minutes of what he should be shown.
Prefer a more technical brief? Here’s 19 minutes of detail.
The US.
Catching on? Or catching up?.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251029-the-beam-dream-should-we-build-solar-farms-in-space
“Harvesting solar energy in orbit and beaming it down to Earth is a decades-old idea. Now, a raft of companies say they could finally make it a reality.”
“Star Catcher is one of several companies around the world developing space-based solar power technologies, a concept that has languished in a grey area between science fact and science fiction for decades. The idea is to provide Earth with abundant clean energy by capturing sunlight in space and beaming it to the ground or other satellites.”
“Solar panels on terra firma are, by contrast, limited by the atmosphere, the weather and Earth’s day-night cycle. These all affect how much sunlight those panels can soak up, filtering out varying amounts of the Sun’s radiation before it can reach ground level. But in space, it is possible to collect sunlight almost around the clock at much higher efficiencies.”
“”Space-based solar power makes the energy transition work,” argues Homfray, noting that some estimates claim it could supply up to 80% of Europe’s renewable energy needs.”
“”It would likely require enormous satellite constellations, which might be controversial, difficult to operate safely and require a significant number of rocket launches to construct. Plus, there are cheaper and easier forms of renewable energy that could come online far quicker – which is important given the need to replace fossil fuels with greener alternatives if the world is to have any hope of bringing global warming under control.”
“Even so, there are some who believe the rewards for building solar power stations in space will come to far outweigh the drawbacks. The US military, for example, is very keen on a technology that will allow it to beam energy to anywhere in the world on demand, helping to overcome one of the major problems faced on modern battlefields, but it could be equally as useful in the aftermath of disasters or for rural communities.”
For clean energy enthusiasts it’s encouraging that the US is “experimenting” but troubling that China is much further ahead in strategy and implementation.
CHINA?
How far ahead of the US?
https://sustainabilitymag.com/articles/chinas-1km-solar-array-the-manhattan-project-of-energy
“China’s 1km-wide solar array in space is expected to collect as much energy in a year as the total amount of oil that can be extracted from the Earth”
“Renewable energy, crucial for the energy transition and attaining net zero status, is broadening its horizons in application.”
“Solar panels, for instance, harness the sun’s energy to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect, turning light energy into usable power.”
INDIA?
Thanks to Donald Trump’s tariff warfare, China and India are formalizing efforts to support each other and the BRICS. That India intends to invest $21 trillion to be rid of fossil fuels as within it’s budget? Yikes! Shedding energy dependency makes sense, but where could India’s energy come from?
https://avg.1news.io/news/7e6d5f5a8bd54ab3b54d6a5e436603f1?utm_source=avg
“The article contends that analyses of renewable energy investments often solely highlight costs, neglecting substantial financial gains.”
“Eliminating fossil fuels offers tangible benefits such as saving on fuel expenditures, reducing the impact of climate-related disasters, and improving public health by cutting pollution.”
“Providing access to affordable, non-polluting renewable energy sources can enhance the quality of life for all.”
“The author criticizes a plan that includes unproven and expensive nuclear energy, deeming it an unsuitable option.”
“Instead, the recommendation is to prioritize proven, low-cost energy solutions.”
Report details.
https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/10/20/1447219/india-draft-plan-reveals-21-trillion-net-zero-investment-need
Comments anyone?
Please advise…
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Assume you’ve just been named Prime Minister. You have zero experience in Energy matters. Wisely you seek expert counsel.
But what if those consulted provide an overly optimistic or inaccurate assessment? Accepting the wrong advice can quickly become your biggest mistake. It’s of little help to blame others. The Opposition will argue that you should have sought better advice elsewhere.
Alas. Just when our PM confesses his passion for spending billions on LNG and that his favourite fossil fuel couldn’t be beat as the Fuel Of The Future, along comes Bill Gates (in Utah!) to gum up some weighty predictions..
Predictions? That the best reason to develop much more LNG is that no other green option (Solar, Wind or Hydro Dam power) could be ramped up fast enough to meet anticipated demand.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Major+New+Energy+Source+Unearthed+Beneath+Utah+Desert&form=QBLH&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=major+new+energy+source+unearthed+beneath+utah+desert&sc=0-53&qs=n&sk=&cvid=37F44A1700F348B0933BFA91F8BAE8BC
“A significant new energy source has been discovered in the Utah desert, focusing on enhanced geothermal energy, which has the potential to provide reliable, lowemission power.”
“Deep beneath the Utah desert, innovative geothermal projects are underway, particularly the Cape Station project by Fervo Energy. This project aims to harness the Earth’s heat to
generate clean energy, with plans to produce 100 megawatts of power by 2026 and an additional 400 megawatts by 2028. This development is part of a broader trend to utilize geothermal energy as a stable and continuous power source, contrasting with intermittent sources like solar and wind.”
“Servo Energy is employing advanced drilling techniques traditionally used in the oil and gas industry to access geothermal resources at greater depths. Their approach involves drilling nearly 3 miles into the Earth, where temperatures can reach around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This method allows for the extraction of geothermal energy that can potentially meet global electricity demands significantly.”
“The geothermal sector is experiencing a surge in investment, with $1.7 billion in public funding allocated to North American geothermal installations in early 2025. Thisreflects a growing recognition of geothermal energy’s potential to contribute to the energy mix, especially as technology advances. The U.S. Geological Survey has indicated that geothermal sources in regions like the Great Basin could meet up to 10% of the nation’s electricity demand, with projections suggesting that geothermal could provide as much as 15% of global electricity needs by 2050.”
“In addition to Fervo Energy’s efforts, a Canadian company, Rodatherm, is developing a unique waterless geothermal system in Utah. This system aims to produce energy without the use of waterbased tools, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. The combination of these innovative projects positions Utah as a leader in geothermal energy development, with the potential to significantly impact the clean energy landscape.”
“In summary, the discovery and development of geothermal energy sources in the Utah desert represent a promising advancement in the quest for sustainable and reliable energy solutions. As these projects progress, they could play a crucial role in meeting future energy demands while contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.”
Bill Gates likes Geothermal? He’s even invested in it? Let’s check.
https://www.gatesnotes.com/utahs-hottest-new-power-source-is-below-the-ground
“Breakthrough Energy and I are proud supporters of Fervo, and it was super cool to see firsthand how much progress has been made at Cape Station. The company’s pilot project in Nevada came online in 2023 with a capacity of 3.5 MW—enough to provide power to about 2,600 homes. Cape Station will be much bigger. Fervo has already drilled 20 of the 24 planned geothermal wells at the facility for Phase I, and the plant is expected to start generating 100 MW of power next year. An additional 400 MW will come online in 2028.”
If Mr Gates is not busy proselytizing geothermal stateside could he be persuaded to address BC Hydro and the BC Legislature? In person, so they know it’s not AI.
Routinely when asked to recognize stellar examples of progress elsewhere our politicians appear to become confused, and hard of hearing.
Keeping consumer energy costs low and the profits in Canada? Energy politics doesn’t seem aware of those as legitimate corporate priorities in a Public Utility.
Among many reasons offered to help conclude that energy demand must skyrocket is future Data Centre dependency.
That said, as an example of a surprising new vision a new Nvidia project is due to launch this month. Proponents argue that earth-based data systems are all but obsolete compared to their Star Cloud One initiative….
Consider their argument..
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