Constant innovation has allowed us to harness energy from some of nature’s once-unreachable gifts. From winds powering turbines to waters producing hydroelectricity, our very definition of power has changed. Yet there is one deemed too risky to work with even now—volcanoes. We would benefit greatly from using their heat since the vast majority of energy today comes from non-renewables like fossil fuels and oil. The Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) might be the key to solving this.
Volcano energy
Not all places are equal when it comes to resources. Some countries might have resources to spare, but areas with harsh climates like Iceland aren’t so fortunate. However, what Iceland does have in abundance are volcanoes. By accident, the Iceland Deep Drilling Project uncovered magma just 2.1 km deep beneath the search while researching the energy capabilities of superficial fluids. This was unprecedented, but in a good way.
KMT is on a mission to magma, to explore its nature, characterize its potential as a direct #energy source, and contribute to a safer world through advancing volcano monitoring systems.#GeoscienceDiscovery #MagmaEnergy #GeothermalEnergy #VolcanoMonitoring #TechInnovation pic.twitter.com/Ny4Bu2fipz
— Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) (@KMT_Project) October 16, 2023
KMT builds on the discovery with the support of the Icelandic government. It has been ongoing since 2017 and is now gearing up towards its final preparations before the drilling starts in 2026. The project aims to create superhot geothermal technologies that are only possible at near the magma level. Currently, the majority of our energy comes from non-renewable sources. KMT research into volcanic energy can significantly change tides worldwide.
Geothermal energy, which draws from many forms of heat below the Earth’s surface, has long been a candidate for sustainable energy development. Historically, we drew from the heated waters and hot steam at least as far back as 1913 with Italy’s Larderello geothermal power plant. Although not on a volcano, the site contains waters heated from below by magma, which converts them into power. Other projects followed suit, with some converting energy for electricity while smaller-scale installations only serve for heating. Larderello and 33 other geothermal plants now power 34% of Tuscany’s needs.
“Magma energy is a hidden gem below our feet.
1l of magma = 1MW.
And Krafla is an ideal place for a magma testbed to explore energy potential.” Vordís Eiríksdóttir, Landsvirkjun#kraflamagmatestbed#KMTsymposium2024 pic.twitter.com/stS2GVnkJL
— Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) (@KMT_Project) April 10, 2024
Conclusion
Over the years, we have developed more efficient ways to harvest that energy, both from heated waters and emerging hot steam. Small-scale projects can now connect single homes to geothermal energy. Directly using volcanoes or magma has only been limited to a few researchers and has never gained much attention due to the high risk of working with them. I look forward to hearing more once KMT’s drilling starts. Volcanoes and magma are unpredictable and should be approached with caution. But when has unpredictability stopped human innovation?
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been taken by Erwan Gardan.
Source: Enel
