The Biggest Uno reverse card in renewable energy this year: Could fracking be good?
Fracking for Geothermal Energy: A Promising Renewable Resource
When it comes to harmful energy extraction, fracking is notorious for the damage it does to it’s surrounding environment, the water sources around it, and the natural disasters it causes. Since the late 90s when it was promoted as a promising method of tapping into hard to extract oils, there have been countless anti-fracking campaigns after events such as earthquakes and the contamination of water sources. It might not be known that many who go into the industry of fracking are actually well intentioned and it seems that the oil extracting practice might be having a full circle moment now in the search for sustainable energy sources as alternatives to our everyday oil and coal which are the leading sources of energy globally.
Electricity Sources in TWh/yr
This horizontal bar plot shows that coal and gas are the two leading sources of energy for generating electricity, while renewable sources like hydroelectric, wind and solar energy are far far behind in terms of annual Terawatt-hour production
But first, let’s do a quick deep dive into why fracking has gained such a notorious reputation throughout the past years. Conventionally, fracking is the practice of extracting fossil fuels from underground rock formations. The process goes like this:
1) A well is drilled vertically or at an angle into the Earth's crust to reach the target rock formation, which contains oil or natural gas.
2) In many fracking operations, the wellbore is extended horizontally into the rock formation, increasing the contact area with the reservoir.
3) A high-pressure fluid, typically composed of water mixed with sand and various chemicals, is injected into the well at high pressure. This fluid is used to create fractures or cracks in the rock.
4) The high-pressure fluid fractures the rock, and the sand or proppants are carried into the fractures, holding them open. This allows oil or natural gas to flow more freely.
5) With the fractures in place, the oil or natural gas trapped in the rock formation can flow into the wellbore and be brought to the surface.
A few obvious problems arise from this process, one is the unavoidable groundwater contamination during fluid injection. Chemicals used in fracking fluids, as well as methane and other hydrocarbons, can migrate from the wellbore into underground water sources, eventually making their way into drinking water supplies. Another implication of hydraulic fracking is when the injection of wastewater into disposal wells increases subsurface pressure and triggers seismic events. In 2011, fracking operations near Blackpool had to be suspended after tremors of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude were detected, and in the same year, 58 earthquakes were linked to fluid injection during hydraulic fracturing in Lancashire with the largest having a magnitude of 2.3 and being felt locally.
In addition to this, some further implications of hydraulic fracking include methane leaks, inadequate wastewater management and reduced air quality from air pollution, just to name a few.
Now that we’ve covered why hydraulic fracking is so bad. Let’s cover why fracking techniques are being mentioned in discussions about clean energy sources. At first, discussing fracking techniques as a way of potentially unlocking clean energy sources seems counterintuitive, but fracking actually has the potential to unlock a vast untapped resource: renewable geothermal energy. By utilizing this technique in geothermal reservoirs, we can harness the Earth's heat to generate clean and reliable power. Fracking for geothermal energy would involve injecting water, sand, and small amounts of chemicals deep underground to create fractures in the rocks. These fractures allow for the circulation of water, which is heated by the Earth's natural heat reservoirs, and is then brought back to the surface to drive turbines and generate electricity. The application of fracking in geothermal energy extraction could offer several benefits, making it an attractive prospect for a sustainable future.
Right now, the renewable energy sources we have that are accessible like wind and solar are not reliable enough to be the main sources of energy globally, they fluctuate with weather conditions. Geothermal power plants however, operate round the clock, providing a stable and consistent electricity supply, making it a valuable asset for baseload power generation, contributing to grid stability and energy security. As of now, geothermal energy is included in the tiny ‘other renewables’ part of the above bar plot, and that’s because like many of the other renewables, it’s not easily accessible like wind and solar and hasn’t been tapped into widely for many reasons.
One is that Geothermal energy is location-dependent. It can only be harnessed in regions with access to geothermal reservoirs, typically areas with active volcanoes or tectonic plate boundaries. This restricts its availability to certain regions and countries. This means that in inland regions that tend to have less heat flow from the Earth's interior, geothermal energy isn’t likely to be a main energy source, the same goes for Desert regions because of their distance from geothermal reservoirs and Northern Latitudes as geothermal energy potential decreases as you move farther away from the equator. Additionally, the upfront costs of drilling deep wells and building geothermal power plants can be significant, and not all regions with geothermal potential have the financial resources to develop geothermal projects. Lastly, there can be uncertainty about the size and productivity of geothermal reservoirs until exploratory drilling is conducted. This poses risks for investors and can deter project development.
Despite these roadblocks, geothermal energy is still being considered as a renewable energy source because it has a minimal carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels. By tapping into the warmth of our planet, we can produce power without directly releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This reduces our dependence on non-renewable sources, such as coal or natural gas, and helps combat climate change by significantly lowering carbon emissions.
The long-term sustainability Geothermal fracking offers is very attractive. Once a geothermal reservoir is enhanced through EGS, it can continue to produce energy for decades or even centuries without significant decline, making it highly sustainable. Additionally, by using advanced drilling techniques and enhanced reservoir engineering, we can extract geothermal energy from previously untapped hotspots, extending the life of geothermal reservoirs. Moreover, the water used in fracking can also be recycled, reducing the overall consumption of water and minimising environmental impacts.
Nonetheless, it is crucial to acknowledge and address potential challenges associated with fracking for geothermal energy. Concerns such as induced seismicity, the use of chemicals, and water management must be thoroughly evaluated and managed properly to ensure environmental protection and public safety. Strict regulations, monitoring, and public engagement are necessary to mitigate any potential risks associated with this technology.
As for now however, fracking for geothermal energy represents an exciting development in renewable energy production. By honing in on on the Earth's natural heat reservoirs, we can obtain an abundant, clean, and reliable energy source. When approached responsibly and with strong regulatory frameworks, fracking for geothermal energy has the potential to play a significant role in our transition to a greener and more sustainable future.
