Deep geothermal is one of the most promising sources to meet the global energy transition at scale by creating more energy with fewer resources. A deep geothermal power plant can create 10x more energy than conventional geothermal resources, provide 24/7 baseload power, and unlock near-universal access to clean energy on a small land footprint.
“The world needs, more than ever before, game-changing technologies that can deliver abundant carbon-free heat and power to become carbon neutral by 2050. We believe deep geothermal has great potential to become one of these technologies,” said Toshiaki Nobuhara, General Manager, International Utility Dept. of Mitsubishi Corporation.
Quaise is uniquely positioned to harness deep geothermal energy worldwide at 3-20 km below the Earth’s surface. To achieve such a feat, the company has advanced a novel technique to vaporize rock using high-power microwaves in the millimeter range, based on more than a decade of research at MIT and recent testing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The original MIT experiments have now been scaled up 100x, with field demonstrations commencing later this year.
The new funding aims to improve geologic understanding at pilot plant locations. Quaise will conduct magnetic and seismic surveys, among other tests, to identify the most advantageous areas for initial drilling. The data will inform the company where to place the first commercial pilots.
The other target of the funding is to strengthen the supply chain for the company’s unique drilling technology. Quaise is entering joint development and licensing agreements with manufacturers to ensure future equipment will meet design and capacity requirements as the company scales its operations beyond first pilots.
“Our mission is to create the most sustainable and prosperous energy future for all,” said Carlos Araque, CEO and co-founder of Quaise Energy. "By accelerating our field operations and securing our supply chain, we are preparing deep geothermal to be the indispensable energy of the 21st century.”
A central focal point of Quaise is repurposing existing fossil-fired assets. By drilling onsite at thermal generation plants and industrial centers to utilize the existing infrastructure and workforce, a faster energy transition becomes possible. Deep geothermal power plants, harnessed globally, have the potential to collectively generate terawatts of clean power, rivaling the output of fossil fuels but with zero carbon.
