In California, they want to use old oil wells to generate more energy: this is how geothermal solar energy storage works

The energy transition is the process where countries have committed to reduce by 43% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Along the same lines, the state of California in the United States is seeking to make its energy production entirely renewable. carbon neutral by 2045. Among the measures they are going to implement is converting an old oil well into geothermal storage for solar energy.

Geothermal storage of solar energy. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) together with the Idaho and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and a private investment group have developed the project GeoTES for the storage of thermal energy in a natural geological reserve. The project will be carried out in Kern County, known for its oil extraction fields, which began drill in 1899.

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What is the process? Solar thermal energy is combined with geothermal energy to store heat underground. During the day, solar thermal energy is used to heat a fluid that will be injected into a deep geothermal aquifer. This space will be used as a thermal battery, that is, storing heat. After all this process, when the stored heat is needed, it is extracted and used to produce steam, which drives a turbine generating electricity for homes.

Is it sustainable? The aim of this research is to take advantage of geothermal principles similar to those of the heat pump, i.e. exchanging heat with the outside air. However, the advantage of geothermal energy is greater efficiency and stability due to the constant temperature of the subsoil.

Similar projects. It seems that Texas and California are fighting for the place to improve their sustainable data. The oil wells of Texas and of Illinois are being used for geothermal energy storage. Something that Quaise Energy is also using, but is slightly different to this project, is the millimeter wave drill to extract more energy. All of this is aimed at taking advantage of and reusing existing infrastructure.

Image | Unsplash

Via | Yale E360

Xataka | After wind power, another renewable energy is preparing to take a revolutionary “offshore” leap: geothermal energy