PNNL recovers geothermal heat for less polluted energy
The metal-organic heat carrier (MOHC) is a way to cleaner electricity. Image sourced from PNNLThe Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently developed a method for getting heat from geothermal resources at an affordable cost and without emitting greenhouse gases.
"Some novel research on nanomaterials used to capture carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels actually led us to this discovery," said PNNL Laboratory Fellow Pete McGrail. "Scientific breakthroughs can come from some very unintuitive connections."
McGrail said that PNNL intends to generate electricity through the enhanced geothermal system by the end of the year. The conversion system utilizes a rapidly expanding and contracting liquid called biphasic fluid for powering a turbine into producing electricity.
The nanostructured metal-organic heat carriers (MOHCs) added by the scientists enhance the power production ability to steam cycle level.
PNNL receives $1.2 million as one of DOE’s 21 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy grant recipients through the Geothermal Technologies Program.
Pacific Northwest National Library is a Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory where interdisciplinary teams advance science and technology and deliver solutions to America’s intractable problems in energy, national security, and environment.
- Sunshine T. Santiago
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