A startup called Zanskar claims to have discovered a hidden source of geothermal energy in Nevada, marking the first such discovery by the industry in decades. The company uses AI to identify hidden geothermal systems and says its technology has successfully pinpointed a commercially viable site for a potential power plant.
The development is seen as significant because geothermal energy is one of the simplest methods of generating renewable energy, with reservoirs of hot water underground producing steam that can be used to power turbines at the surface. However, finding these resources is challenging, as most geothermal systems are deep underground and do not show any signs on the surface.
Zanskar's AI technology builds on previous research by scientists who began studying known geothermal systems in the 2000s. The company has been collecting data on potential sites for years and says its tech has consistently identified hotspots that could be used to generate electricity.
The discovery is a major boost to the industry, which has struggled to find new sources of renewable energy. While some companies are focusing on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which involve creating conditions for geothermal through fracking-like processes, Zanskar's approach may offer a more cost-effective and sustainable solution.
According to company co-founders Carl Hoiland and Joel Edwards, the potential for harnessing blind geothermal systems could be much greater than previously estimated. In 2008, the US government reported that undiscovered geothermal systems comprised around 30 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power over 25 million homes. However, experts believe this figure may be an underestimate and that tens or hundreds of gigawatts of energy are likely hiding in blind systems.
The discovery also comes as investors and companies begin to take a fresh look at geothermal energy, which has historically been seen as a niche player in the renewable energy space. With advancements in technology and decreasing costs, geothermal energy is becoming increasingly attractive as a viable option for power generation.
The development is seen as significant because geothermal energy is one of the simplest methods of generating renewable energy, with reservoirs of hot water underground producing steam that can be used to power turbines at the surface. However, finding these resources is challenging, as most geothermal systems are deep underground and do not show any signs on the surface.
Zanskar's AI technology builds on previous research by scientists who began studying known geothermal systems in the 2000s. The company has been collecting data on potential sites for years and says its tech has consistently identified hotspots that could be used to generate electricity.
The discovery is a major boost to the industry, which has struggled to find new sources of renewable energy. While some companies are focusing on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which involve creating conditions for geothermal through fracking-like processes, Zanskar's approach may offer a more cost-effective and sustainable solution.
According to company co-founders Carl Hoiland and Joel Edwards, the potential for harnessing blind geothermal systems could be much greater than previously estimated. In 2008, the US government reported that undiscovered geothermal systems comprised around 30 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power over 25 million homes. However, experts believe this figure may be an underestimate and that tens or hundreds of gigawatts of energy are likely hiding in blind systems.
The discovery also comes as investors and companies begin to take a fresh look at geothermal energy, which has historically been seen as a niche player in the renewable energy space. With advancements in technology and decreasing costs, geothermal energy is becoming increasingly attractive as a viable option for power generation.
- we've been sleeping on this one! Blind geothermal systems could be hiding trillions of watts of clean energy 
... the potential's massive! This startup Zanskar is on to something huge 
, and I'm so hyped for them. The fact that they're using AI to identify these hidden hotspots means we might finally have a reliable source of renewable energy that doesn't require all this fancy EGS tech 
. Let's hope the industry can capitalize on this discovery and make geothermal energy the norm again 
. It'd be a game-changer for our planet, and I'm all about it 
!
30 gigawatts of electricity just waiting to be harnessed... can you even imagine the impact on our planet if we can tap into that? 
and the fact that Zanskar's AI tech has found a commercially viable site after years of collecting data is just mind-blowing 
. I'm so down for this renewable energy revolution! 
they're using ai to find hidden geothermal energy sources which could be a game changer for renewable energy. 30 gigawatts of electricity just sitting there, waiting to be harnessed? that's wild. also, it's cool that the industry is getting a boost after struggling to find new sources of clean energy. maybe this means we'll see more power plants popping up in nevada and beyond 
. Like, how did they just magically stumble upon this hidden source of geothermal energy in Nevada? It's gotta be more than just coincidence. And what about the data collection process? They've been collecting info on potential sites for years and now suddenly their AI tech starts hitting paydirt? That's some suspiciously convenient timing if you ask me.
. I mean, what's really going on here? Is it just a case of some genius entrepreneur stumbling upon a valuable resource, or is there something more sinister at play?
i'm like, totally excited for the future of our planet 
... literally! geothermal energy is like the ultimate feel good story - no pollution, minimal impact, just pure renewable vibes 
. and 30 gigawatts of electricity hiding in blind systems? that's some crazy math 
. can't wait to see the cost come down and make this tech mainstream 
. anyhoo, props to zanskar for making geothermal energy cool again 
.
What I don't get is how much money this whole thing could make though. Are we talking massive profits or just a tiny chunk for the startup? 
. And the best part? It's like, way more cost-effective and sustainable than some of those other methods out there 
, but I think this discovery is a major game-changer 
That would be wild 
.
of renewable energy! The fact that this could be a game-changer for the industry and help us transition to cleaner energy sources is totally awesome 
. The company co-founders are onto something big here! It's amazing to see innovation and tech advancements leading to real-world breakthroughs. This is exactly why I'm so stoked about the future of sustainability 