ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

EDF, the operator of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power plants in the north of England, has just made a game-changing announcement. Brace yourself, because these two power units will now continue to operate until 2026, two years longer than previously planned! Heysham 1 (Image: EDF) The decision comes after a rigorous review by EDF, prompted by the impact of the Russian war with Ukraine and energy price rises. Positive inspections of the graphite reactor cores during 2022 have increased confidence that the stations can generate for longer and continue to meet stringent regulatory standards. But wait, there's more! The 29TWh of electricity these stations could generate over the two-year period could help to displace 6 billion cubic metres of gas, in carbon emission terms "like taking 5 million cars off the UK’s roads for a year". Not only does this help the UK reduce its use of imported gas, but it's also great news for the 2000 skilled people whose jobs are suppor...

Fervo Energy, a geothermal power start-up based in Houston, is testing a new spin on traditional geothermal plants. The start-up's experiments suggest that it can create flexible geothermal power plants, which are capable of producing electricity that can be ramped up or down as required.   Fervo’s enhanced geothermal demonstration site in northern Nevada ALASTAIR WIPER/COURTESY OF FERVO ENERGY Additionally, the system can store up energy for hours or days, essentially acting as a giant and long-lasting battery. This means that the plants could shut down production when solar and wind farms are generating power and provide a rich stream of clean electricity when those sources flag. Fervo's approach could potentially fill a critical gap in modern power grids, making it cheaper and easier to eliminate greenhouse-gas emissions from electricity systems. The results from the initial experiments—which MIT Technology Review is reporting exclusively—suggest Fervo can create flexible ge...

Geothermal energy is gaining popularity in the Western United States as a means of achieving renewable energy goals. Instead of drilling for oil, states like Colorado are drilling for underground heat to power geothermal electricity plants. Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who chairs the Western Governors’ Association, is leading an initiative to increase the use of geothermal energy in the region. A recent workshop brought together state and federal officials, industry leaders, and utility representatives to discuss the future of geothermal energy. (image source: unsplash.com,Sam Bark) Backers of geothermal energy believe it can play a vital role in the clean energy transition, but only with government investments, utility regulations, and other policies that encourage development and help the industry become more cost-competitive over time. The majority of the industry’s potential for power generation is in Western states, where underground permeable rock with fractures contains hot fl...

Electricity is a fundamental part of our daily lives, powering everything from the devices we use to the lights in our homes. But have you ever stopped to think about how electricity is transmitted?  image source(unsplash.com) The process of transmitting electricity from power plants to our homes is a complex and fascinating one, involving a variety of technologies and techniques. In this article, we'll take a closer look at how electricity is transmitted. Generation The first step in transmitting electricity is generating it. Most of the electricity we use is generated by power plants, which convert some form of energy into electrical energy. There are many different types of power plants, including fossil fuel plants, nuclear plants, hydroelectric plants, and renewable energy plants. Each type of plant generates electricity in a slightly different way, but the end result is the same: electrical energy is produced. Transforming Voltage Once electricity is generated, it is typicall...