Solar energy “under the ground”: energy scientists made the biggest discovery in history

Combining geothermal and solar energy could create super-efficient generators to deliver cheaper electricity.

National Lab Idaho and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (US) intend to launch a geothermal “hybrid” project in Idaho that will use solar energy. This is reported by ecoticias.com.

Some startups are designing innovative geothermal technologies to help the US develop more advanced power plants. Geothermal energy produces only about 4% of the United States' electricity today, but there is potential for much more. Thoughtful approaches, such as the creation of hybrid geothermal power plants, are signals that the country's energy industry is moving in the right direction.

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The traditional way to obtain geothermal energy is to drill holes under the Earth's surface, collect the steam and use it to power turbines. Obviously, this approach is limited by geography. Geothermal power plants can be built only in places where the internal heat of the Earth is close to the surface. Therefore, to force power plants to increase energy production, experts are considering the possibility of switching to a hybrid model.

Theoretically, a hybrid geothermal plant will combine more than one type of energy. There are several options for achieving this. One of them — use a geothermal station to collect natural gas. Another option — place solar panels near the station to use the sun as an additional source of heat. However, not every geothermal facility will work as a hybrid.

Geothermal plants are currently not very efficient. By using solar energy to heat an organic liquid to spin more turbines, hybrid geothermal plants can produce much more electricity, lowering costs for sellers and consumers. When the cost of renewable energy comes down, it will be easier to get people to make the transition to greener solutions for the planet. Placing photovoltaic cells in and around existing geothermal plants — it's a potentially creative way to generate more green energy with less effort.