Icelandic scientists and researchers are on a assignment to convert the renewable energy landscape by probing into the center of a volcano.
They have set their target on transforming renewable energy by exploring the potentials of piercing directly into a volcano’s magma chamber. The magma chamber is an underground tank where molten rock accumulates before discharge as lava.
The ambitious Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) mission aims to tap into a magma cavity of Krafla in northern Iceland by 2026.
To make this revelation a reality, KMT is aggressively seeking $100 million (£79 million) in funding, with plans to commence drilling by 2027, according to a statement by New Civil Engineer.
KMT is an worldwide initiative that pursues to construct the “world’s primary magma research facility for progressive studies and experiments.”
If successful, this approach would permit for unparalleled geothermal energy production, opening the pathway to offer a immeasurable energy supply to houses across Iceland.
Krafla is a volcanic caldera with a diameter of roughly ten kilometers and a 90-kilometer-long fissure zone. It is documented as one of the most broadly studied geothermal systems globally.
Krafla has been termed the cradle of geothermal in Iceland and is the location of the country´s first geothermal power station, the KMT website mentions.
Krafla’s magma chamber is positioned at a fairly short depth of only 1-2 miles below the surface, with temperatures reaching 2,372°F (1,300°C).
The shallow depth of Krafla’s magma chamber grew attention suddenly in 2009 during a geothermal drilling mission for the Iceland energy company Landsvirkjun. The project surprisingly encountered a magma chamber close to the Krafla volcano. The fact that the team was not directly faced with a volcanic eruption provided supportive evidence that drilling into magma could be completed safely.
The high temperatures in the magma chamber have the possibility to significantly upsurge Iceland’s energy supply.
Reportedly, the funding will accelerate the advancement of this mission by permitting the attainment of advanced drilling equipment capable of enduring higher temperatures. KMT also proposes to deploy a set of high-tech sensors to frequently monitor diverse magma parameters, including temperature.
The KMT team has set an ambitious timeline, targeting to tap into Krafla’s magma chamber by 2026.
The first borehole is expected to be drilled by either 2026 or 2027. Through this direct investigation, KMT researchers aim to improve their understanding of magma and its properties.
Succeeding this, KMT plans to drill a additional borehole to study the viability of harnessing geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy has been used in Iceland for several years through a procedure that includes drilling into hot underground sections to tap into the Earth’s natural heat. This method involves drilling wells into settings with increased subsurface temperatures.
The heat from the Earth’s interior causes water in these underground tanks to heat up and turn into steam. This steam is then guided to drive turbines linked to generators, altering the energy into electricity.
In Iceland, this approach has proven effective in creating power and meeting a large volume of the country’s energy requirements.
As the mission unfolds, Iceland anticipates a groundbreaking shift in its energy landscape, harnessing the power of volcanoes to deliver a renewable and maintainable source of electricity for homes and industries.
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/iceland-drill-magma-chamber-geothermal-energy
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/iceland-geothermal-magma-chamber/
