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A group of geologists in Dunedin hopes to reduce climate-damaging emissions by drilling deep into an extinct 11-million-year-old volcano below the South Island city to harness its heat.
Dr. Mike Palin and his colleagues at the University of Otago are exploring whether heat could be a viable energy resource, “thus reducing the consumption of carbon-based fuel and the consequent greenhouse gas emissions.”
Geologists hope to drill two holes through the sedimentary rock layer, 500 meters deep into the volcano, and are seeking support for the NZ $ 1 million (US $ 700,000) project from the government’s Smart Ideas program.
The wells, one in central Dunedin and another next to the port, would allow the magma’s heat flow to be monitored, providing data on whether there is enough heat to harness.
The energy would be captured by pumping groundwater in a circuit and then used to heat buildings.
“We don’t want to exaggerate this until we know more,” Palin told The Guardian, “[but] even if we discover that our extinct volcano is not as hot as we think, the idea can certainly be used elsewhere. “
New Zealand is located in what is called the Ring of Fire, a 40,000 km horseshoe-shaped area in the Pacific Ocean that is home to more than 90% of the world’s volcanoes.
The country has committed to reaching zero net carbon emissions by 2050. For the proposed heat extraction plan to work, scientists will need to assess how hot it is below the surface of the volcano, but Palin believes it is likely to be “ pretty hot ”.
“You can burn yourself with something that is 50 ° C … [and] we would say that it is likely that, at a depth of 1 km, we will find rocks at 50-100 ° C, “said Palin.
Palin described his craft as “geological detective work,” noting that his estimates were drawn from clues in the lava surface and findings from two wells previously drilled in the region “indicating that there is a hot rock body under our feet.” .
While geothermal energy is generally reminiscent of vigorous shallow hot springs, much of that same energy is found not far from the surface, Palin said. “There are many places where the heat is relatively shallow, within a kilometer of the surface. That can be used. “
