The New Energy Frontier: Quaise Energy’s Superhot Geothermal Gambit in Oregon By Alphaxioms Editorial Team | September 4, 2026 In the high desert of Central Oregon, a project with implications far beyond Deschutes County is taking shape. Quaise Energy, now backed by a total of $280 million in funding, is advancing Project Obsidian, which it describes as the world’s first commercial superhot geothermal power plant . The company says the first phase is designed to deliver 50 MW by 2030, with a pathway toward 250 MW and ultimately more than 1 GW . Before the first megawatt reaches the grid, however, the project faces a local policy test: whether Deschutes County should grant a five-year property tax abatement under Oregon’s Rural Renewable Energy Development Zone Program. That decision is more than a routine incentive request. It is a referendum on how rural counties choose to support next-generation energy infrastructure and whether older incentive frameworks can accommodate a technolog...
Next week, as part of the geothermal project in Magglingen, Switzerland, around 2,700 measurement devices will be deployed for underground data collection. The actual measurements are scheduled to start in mid-March and will last for about three weeks.
The Magglingen geothermal project, which will provide heat for the National Sports Center in Magglingen (NSM) in the future, is entering a new phase. In preparation for the planned measurements, around 2,700 measurement devices will be deployed in Leubringen/Magglingen and twelve other communities for underground data collection. They will remain there for about two months. The actual measurements will start, depending on the weather conditions, in mid-March and will last for about three weeks. They are aimed at locating the suspected warm water reservoir in the depths. The results will be evaluated in early 2024.
Investigation of the underground using vibrations
To utilize the water reservoir, which is suspected to be about 1,500 to 2,000 meters deep below Magglingen, for heat production, two boreholes are necessary. The upcoming measurements serve the investigation of the underground, which is necessary in advance. Three special vibration vehicles on land and a boat on Lake Biel, as well as around 2,700 measurement devices, provide the necessary data. The vibrations do not pose a greater burden on humans, animals, or the environment.
Most of the measurements are carried out by the vibration vehicles on roads, fields, and forest roads at night. Measurements in inhabited areas are preferably carried out between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The project website linked in the appendix shows the traveled routes and provisional schedules in detail. In addition, the population has access to an SMS service. Users receive a message one day before the passage of the vibration vehicles at a certain address. Parallel to the land measurements, measurements on Lake Biel are also taking place. These will be carried out within a few days.
Geothermal resource assessment is the process of evaluating the potential of a site to produce geothermal energy. There are several techniques that are commonly used for geothermal resource assessment, including:
Geophysical Surveys: This involves using methods such as seismic, magnetic, gravity, and electromagnetic surveys to gather information about the subsurface structure and temperature of the earth.
Drilling: Drilling is used to gather data on the temperature, fluid composition, and flow rate of geothermal reservoirs.
Geochemical Analysis: This involves analyzing the chemical composition of geothermal fluids and gases to determine the temperature and fluid flow rate of the reservoir.
Geothermometry: This involves measuring the temperature of geothermal fluids and estimating the temperature of the geothermal reservoir.
Heat Flow Studies: This involves measuring the heat flow at the surface to estimate the heat flow in the subsurface.
Numerical Modeling: This involves using mathematical models to simulate the behavior of geothermal systems and predict the potential for geothermal energy production.
Direct Use Studies: This involves evaluating the potential for direct use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling purposes.
The choice of techniques used for geothermal resource assessment depends on the specific conditions of the site, the type of geothermal system, and the information that is needed to make informed decisions about geothermal energy production.
To read about a recent geothermal resource assessment activity kindly read this article:
https://alphaxioms.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-groundbreaking-study-explores.html
source: (https://www.geothermie.de)
#Geothermal #Switzerland #Assesments
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