Newberry Volcano Geothermal Projects, Past and Future

Forty years of geothermal exploration and attempted development on Newberry Volcano has yet to result in geothermal electricity production. Since the National Volcanic Monument was formed in 1990, all drilling efforts have been on the volcano flanks where deep wells have encountered very high temperature at depth (320 C and 3 km), but no significant permeability. From 2010-2015, AltaRock Energy used the latest technologies and Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) methods to stimulate NWG 55-29, a well drilled by Davenport Newberry in 2008. That project ended with significant progress but not enough funding to drill a production well and prove the EGS resource. Private and public funding for geothermal research and development, which has been cyclical depending on the price of oil, global warming concerns, and politics, is back up. New plans to drill deeper at Newberry to access temperatures above 400 C are being made by AltaRock and a new drilling technologies partner, Quaise Energy.

This event can be attended on its own or as the first in a two-part series on geothermal energy for our March Power Hour on Wednesday, March 30th. Register for this event, Homegrown Renewables: Geothermal Energy, here.