The Superhot Blueprint: Part 2
Superhot geothermal is available everywhere on Earth, if you drill deep enough.
We’ve categorized locations into three tiers based on their geothermal gradient. The higher the geothermal gradient, the easier it is to reach superhot conditions.
This tiered approach enables us to prioritize the most accessible resources first, while steadily moving toward worldwide deployment.
Video Transcript
Superhot geothermal is available everywhere on Earth, if you drill deep enough.
At Quaise, we’ve categorized locations into three tiers based on their geothermal gradient — the rate at which temperature increases with depth. A tiered approach enables us to strike the right balance between commercial speed and new technology deployment risks using the geothermal gradient. The higher the geothermal gradient, the easier it is to reach superhot conditions.
Tier I is the Immediate Opportunity for our initial projects. These sites have the highest geothermal gradients, where temperatures of 300-500°C exist closer to the surface. For every kilometer drilled, the temperature rises by at least 60°C, making it easier to reach superhot conditions. While superhot geothermal temperatures at Tier I sites are accessible with conventional drilling, millimeter wave drilling improves the economics of accessing these higher temperatures.
Tier II sites are where we Scale Up. With geothermal gradients of at least 40°C per kilometer, Tier II sites are only accessible with millimeter wave drilling opening up a significant opportunity. Nearly 40% of the world falls into this category.
Tier III: A Global Solution. Tier III sites have gradients of at least 20 C/km and are only accessible with millimeter waves to drill farther than anyone has gone before. They hold the key to making superhot geothermal a truly global energy source. Tier III sites could provide power to more than 90% of humanity.
This tiered approach enables us to harness the power of superhot geothermal energy by prioritizing the most accessible resources first.
As we move forward, we’ll share more about the development of our first superhot geothermal plant.