Deep Vision: Big Energy from Way, Way Down (Iceland)

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50526

Today, typical geothermal wells are about 2.5 km in depth, produce steam at about 300 degrees Celsius and generate about 4-7 megawatts (MW) of electricity. In Iceland, a project is underway to drill almost twice that deep and potentially produce almost ten times that much energy.

It is estimated that producing steam from a well penetrating a reservoir hotter than 450 degrees Celsius -- at a rate of 0.67 cubic meters (24 cubic feet) per second could be enough to generate 40-50 MW of electricity.

The Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) is being run by the IDDP consortium, which is essentially made up of the three leading Icelandic power companies, Hitaveita Sudurnesja Ltd., Landsvirkjun, Orkuveita Reykjavikur, together with Orkustofnun (National Energy Authority) and Alcoa Inc.

The main objective of the IDDP is to investigate whether it is even economically feasible to produce energy and chemicals from geothermal systems at supercritical conditions.

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I thought you were opposed to nuclear energy... :)

Supercritical water dissolves everything, including rock and minerals. The "black smokers" in the ocean depths is supercritical water laden with minerals. As the water cools the minerals precipitate out. Hopefully, they can overcome this.