# Scale of the problem

**URL:** <https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/scale-of-the-problem/417>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [21 November 2021 05:28 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/scale-of-the-problem/417 "2021-11-21T05:28:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 17

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**Author:** ![johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/johnwalker/32/17415_2.png) [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\
**Post date:** [29 January 2023 20:47 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/scale-of-the-problem/417/17 "2023-01-29T20:47:30Z")

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> [@Gavin](#):
>
> Outside of those unusual places, geothermal is fairly limited.

[Quaise Energy](https://www.quaise.energy/), an MIT spin-off, is developing millimetre wave electromagnetic drilling technology to permit sinking boreholes to the 3 to 20 km level, fusing the rock walls of the bore as it goes, where temperature is around 500° C. Supercritical water at that temperature brought to the surface will drive conventional steam turbines, including those of repurposed thermal power stations. Here are two _New Atlas_ articles about the technology and plans:

- “[Fusion tech is set to unlock near-limitless ultra-deep geothermal energy](https://newatlas.com/energy/quaise-deep-geothermal-millimeter-wave-drill/)”
- “[Quaise’s ultra-deep geothermal drilling plans: Your questions answered](https://newatlas.com/energy/quaise-deep-geothermal-drilling-questions/)”

(The “Fusion tech” in the first title is misleading. There is no nuclear fusion involved. They’re just using high power microwave technology developed as part of fusion reactor research to do the drilling.)

Here is a short promotional video about the technology.

[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/2X/a/ac07b30333dc2573bb4964f741ac7654e84d64fb.jpeg "Quaise | The Future of Clean Energy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bu5JFGJJp8)

This is a presentation the company made at the _MIT Technology Review_ ClimateTech conference in November 2022.

[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/2X/a/ab9ef08e575a16f98e72516815186fbdbcdd146f.jpeg "The Heat Beneath Our Feet | MIT Technology Review’s ClimateTech Conference 2022") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOL9k9U0fS8)

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