At a recent event in Marble Falls, Texas, Quaise Energy held a live public demonstration of its millimeter wave geothermal drilling technology. The event allowed dozens of attendees to witness for the first time the use of pure energy to drill granite without the use of traditional drill bits.
Microwave technology and geothermal drilling
According to Carlos Araque, CEO and co-founder of Quaise, he emphasized the company’s goal of converting geothermal geothermal energy into a competitive alternative to the common fuels on the market. The technology demonstrated applies high-frequency radiation to melt the rock, and is part of the MIT legacy, representing, in the words of the executive,“the first major innovation in drilling in a century“.
During the day, participants were able to observe real-time data and tour different workstations, including the gyrotron (device that generates the waves), the drilling platform and the inside of the well through video cameras.
Quaise’s most recent drilling reached 118 meters deep in granite using microwave-like waves. This result set a new record for this type of technology. The tests accurately validated the models developed by the engineering team and confirmed that they can maintain a penetration rate of up to five meters per hour in one of the hardest rocks on the planet.
For Henry Phan, vice president of engineering, this represents a strategic advance over current methods, which average one-tenth that speed. Emilie Williams, head of the test group, said it was important that the field data matched the previously simulated calculations.
In the coming months, the company will seek to go ten times deeper, reaching one kilometer in hard rock. This is part of a series of staged demonstrations that began with laboratory tests and are now moving to the field.
In addition to the technical aspects, Araque insisted on the company’s approach as a major player in the energy market. Additionally, he aims to make geothermal a real driver in the transition to sustainable sources. In this regard, Quaise scheduled six new public demonstrations in Texas over the next three months.
Millimeter-wave technology applied to geothermal energy offers a different way to efficiently unlock subway heat. Unlike other sources, the Earth’s heat is available all over the planet and is not dependent on climatic conditions.
Microwave technology for geothermal energy. Source: Quaise Energy
Backed by scientific breakthroughs coming out of MIT, and a technical team that includes the likes of Matt Houde and Justin Lamb, Quaise Energy is taking concrete steps to turn that potential into commercial reality.
Source and photo: Quaise Energy
