Endurance Energy successfully tested the world’s first subsea geothermal power plant near an active underwater volcano in the northeast Pacific Ocean. The 3-ton prototype, named Adélie, generated less than 10 seconds of net-positive electricity during a three-week deployment at Axial Seamount, located nearly a mile below the ocean surface. The test demonstrated the technical feasibility of tapping geothermal energy beneath the seabed, a potential renewable alternative for Pacific island nations seeking to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Using a subsea lander drill from the ship Ocean Guardian, the team drilled two holes into the seafloor, with hydrothermal fluid reaching temperatures of about 500°F (260°C). Though the initial well was too shallow and narrow to sustain power generation, the system was successfully connected to the Regional Cabled Array, a 559-mile undersea network operated by the University of Washington. CEO Andrew Redd stated the deep ocean provides unlimited cold water for cooling and natural pressure, enabling compact plant design.
While experts like Stanford’s Roland Horne acknowledge the approach is likely more expensive than land-based geothermal, Endurance Energy plans to drill deeper wells in future tests to improve fluid delivery and cost-effectiveness.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing