A startup is drilling deep into one of America’s largest active volcanoes to unlock "superhot rock" energy. (WaPo)
Mazama Energy’s goal is to hit rock above 750°F, where water turns “supercritical.” CEO Sriram Vasantharajan calls it the moment the water's “Clark Kent” state turns into “Superman,” allowing one well to produce 5–10X more energy than a typical geothermal site.
If successful, this technology could transform geothermal from a niche source (under 1% of global power) into a cheap, always-on energy source competitive with natural gas or solar.
The main challenge is keeping equipment alive. Mazama has had to pioneer new engineering tricks—like pumping liquid carbon dioxide—to keep drilling rigs from getting fried in the infernal depths.