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Climate change takes centre stage in today's world, and innovative approaches to addressing the climate challenge are constantly being explored. Surprisingly, however, the answer to the climate question may lie deep underground. Hot dry rock, a little-known geothermal resource, not only provides renewable energy, but is also used in some places for heating and power generation. In this article, we'll dive into what hot dry rock is, how it can be utilized, and its future potential. It's a fascinating story about the future of energy and the environment.
Hot dry rocks, also known as tight hot rock masses, are located 3 to 10 km deep underground, have temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius, and contain no water or vapor inside. This particular geothermal resource plays a key role in the Earth's fabric. The temperature of the Earth's inner core is close to 7,000 degrees Celsius, and its heat travels upwards through the mantle and gradually approaches the crust. As a result, some rock layers in the earth's crust gradually evolve into hot dry rocks under the action of high temperature environments.
Hot dry rock resources theoretically exist in various parts of the earth, but limited by the current state of technology, we can only develop those hot rock bodies that are shallow in burial, high temperature and economically valuable. So, how do you get this heat energy underground?
The development process of hot dry rock consists of the following steps: First, an "injection well" is drilled from the surface into the hot dry rock. Then, the borehole is closed and low-temperature water is injected into the well at high pressure. The high water pressure forced the cracks in the rock formation to gradually form a faceted heat storage structure. Next, several "production wells" are drilled from the surface, which will recycle steam and high-temperature water to the surface, which can be used to heat or generate electricity. Finally, the remaining warm water is injected into the hot dry rock to recycle energy.
Hot dry rock is not only abundant in renewable energy, but also safe, efficient, energy-saving and not limited by environmental factors. It is like a natural "boiler" hidden underground, with huge potential for energy. According to the assessment of the China Geological Survey, the total amount of hot dry rock resources in China at depths of 3 to 10 kilometers is equivalent to 860 trillion tons of standard coal, accounting for 1/6 of the world's total resources. Even if only 2% of that could be extracted, it would be 5,300 times more energy consumption in China in 2010. These data give people great hope.
However, while hot dry rocks have great potential, current development still faces some challenges. Technical problems, talent shortages, and low return on investment limit the further advancement of hot dry rock development. However, scientists are constantly looking for solutions. In July 2020, Jiang Fangming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, proposed an innovative method - "only heat extraction, not water". This method uses a unique gravity heat pipe that absorbs heat from hot dry rock and transfers heat energy to the surface. Compared with traditional heat extraction methods, this method does not require hydraulic fracturing, reduces investment costs, avoids working fluid losses, and provides more ways to use thermal energy.
The future of hot dry rock development is bright, and despite the challenges, with the continuous advancement of technology and the deepening of scientific research, hot dry rock is expected to become a star in the future energy field.
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