Google.org Invests $10M On Geothermal Energy

Google.org has donated $10.25 million to aid a research of a technology called Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). EGS is what Dan Reicher, director of climate and energy initiatives for Google.org, calls a 'killer app' of the energy world!

This endeavor is a giant step towards the fulfillment of Google's Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal initiative. The funds will support the research into the geothermal resource mapping, policy agenda for energy produced and EGS information tools.

EGS, Enhanced Geothermal Systems is an innovative project which works on a technology that imitates the naturally-occurring packets of steam to make renewable energy resources, instead of natural occurring underground packets of hot water or steam.

The $10 million donated by Google.org will be used for the cause of humanity.
EGS will produce energy at a cost much lower than that produced by coal or natural resources.

In EGS process, the hot rocks are broken at different points so that water can be circulated within the created design in the rock. During the circulation process the water gets heated up and steam is produced which rotates the turbine (part the set up) to produce energy. This is how the set up works.

The winning point of this technology or the modal is that it can be used effectively and conveniently, anywhere and anytime.

The project indeed will be a boon for the developing countries.

"It has the potential to deliver vast quantities of power 24/7 and be captured nearly anywhere on the planet. And it would be a perfect complement to intermittent sources like solar and wind," Reicher said.

According to a study carried out by MIT in 2007, the EGS can provide significant portion of energy in future, in US, that too at low prices. In a nutshell, the study suggested that in next 50 years EGS can provide 100,000 MWe energy with multiyear federal investments for R&D.

Google.org aims to produce at least 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that can light up a San Francisco sized city for years.

Google's Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal initiative involves generating power through the various ways like solar thermal power, advanced wind , EGS and other technologies.