20 AUGUST 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Geothermal in the Clean Power Shift Adapted from Information by Stanford University New technologies developed to extract gas and oil from deep underground have opened the door to accessing super high-temperature heat just about anywhere. Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) could play a valuable role in the global transition to clean and renewable energy. It would greatly reduce land requirements, infrastructure needs, and eliminate the need for other constant sources of electricity, such as coal and nuclear, according to a recent Stanford University study. The study revealed EGS can reduce the amount of wind, solar, and battery infrastructure needed for a clean, renewable energy transition, while achieving costs comparable to systems without EGS. “EGS is a promising clean, renewable technology that works together with wind, solar, hydro, and batteries to help power the world for all purposes, thereby providing energy security while eliminating energy-related air pollution and global warming at low cost,” said study lead author Mark Jacobson, a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and Stanford School of Engineering. Conventional geothermal plants are limited to volcanic regions and those lining tectonic plate boundaries with readily-accessible heat from underground. In contrast, EGS only requires drilling nearly two to five miles deep, injecting fluid to crack rocks, then pumping the heated fluid back up to generate electricity. The study compared scenarios with and without EGS and found adding EGS to the renewable energy mix produces substantial infrastructure savings. When EGS provided just 10% of electricity supply, onshore wind capacity needs dropped 15%, solar capacity fell 12%, and battery storage requirements decreased 28%. Total land requirements declined from 0.57% to 0.48%, a difference that could prove especially important for small or densely populated nations, such as Singapore, Gibraltar, Taiwan, and South Korea. The study found clean, renewable energy dramatically reduces costs whether or not EGS was included. Both scenarios cut annual energy costs by roughly 60% compared with the usual fossil fuel use. When health and climate costs were factored in, total social costs plummeted by approximately 90%. The cost of energy remained similar across all clean, renewable energy scenarios in the study, with or without EGS, suggesting adding a baseload power source like EGS has minimal impact on overall system costs. The results challenge arguments intermittent renewables require expensive backup power to maintain grid stability. They also suggest EGS can readily replace the current role of coal and nuclear electricity, to provide a constant level of electricity day and night. The technology faces some uncertainties. EGS costs are still evolving, though the U.S. Department of Energy has projected they could drop significantly by 2035. The first major U.S. EGS plant, a 2-gigawatt facility in Utah, was approved only in October 2024. “Due to improvements in EGS drilling speeds, EGS costs are declining rapidly. These speeds allow EGS projects to be completed quickly, unlike with nuclear, which requires planning-to-operation times of 12 to 23 years worldwide. Also, unlike nuclear, EGS has no risk of weapons proliferation, meltdown, radioactive waste storage leaks, or underground uranium mining lung cancer risk,” said Jacobson. GEO For more information call: (270) 786-3010 or visit us online: www.geothermalsupply.com All New! Atlantis-Pro Vault • Traffic-Rated Capable • Simple installation • Trouble-free operation Dealmakers With over 200 locations, Terracon was in need of another drill rig. Mobile Drill Intl in Indianapolis, Indiana, was pleased to provide a truck-mounted B46. Mobile Drill International Send your deals to: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com
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