The Eavor Loop, by Eavor Technologies, is a new approach to harnessing geothermal energy for electricity. It’s a scalable closed-loop system currently being piloted in Alberta, Canada, that enables us to generate consistent, unlimited clean electricity from the heat emanating from the Earth’s core. Experts call it a total game-changer for renewable energy because it allows us to use the endless energy right beneath our feet.
As I explained in a previous article:
You could think of the system as a giant radiator. It consists of two wells drilled around 2 miles deep (3.5 kilometers) and 3 miles apart (5 kilometers), with several connecting pipes between the two creating a loop. These pipes circulate a proprietary fluid that absorbs the Earth’s heat and uses it to make electricity.
This closed-loop design is what sets it apart from other geothermal projects. The unique system requires no fracking or water; it generates zero greenhouse gas emissions; it doesn’t run the risk of polluting nearby water sources; it does not depend on external elements to generate electricity.
The Canadian startup had plans to launch a dozen more commercial size facilities worldwide after the pilot project proved fruitful. And now, that ambition is edging closer with a major investment round of US$40 million by BP, Chevron, and others.
But what’s so different between the Eavor Loop and other renewable energy sources? It’s dependability, scalability, and efficiency. Wind and solar only produce energy when there’s wind or sun. Hydro isn’t scalable because its size is dictated by the dam (or the width of the waterway). Typical geothermal projects need volcanic heat levels, thus restricting them to specific locations. Other lower-temperature, low-enthalpy geothermal projects – like generating energy from hot rocks – lose between 50-80% of the power generated when pumping the water up and down to the rocks.
The Eavor Loop, on the other hand, depends on an energy source that’s constant and never changing. It can be built anywhere and scale as much as the Earth allows. Its sealed loop enables water to flow up and down naturally (hot water is less dense and rises cold water sinks), meaning no energy losses.
The prototype proved that the “thermo-siphon” effect works to keep fluid circulating by itself and Eavor’s RockPipe design maintains the necessary pressure levels to keep things running efficiently.
The company is looking to build the first commercial-scale project in Gereststried, Germany, at a site owned by Enex Power Company.
Eavor CEO John Redfern told Recharge News:
The first project is likely to start as a 10-MW station, with construction starting next January if it gets the green light. But there’s ample space at the site to ramp it up to 200 MW simply by adding more underground loops. Scaling up to this degree would cost around $2.9 billion.
Eavor considers BP and Chevron as partners, not just investors, who can manage giant projects like this effectively. It envisions the project in Germany to be the beginning of a relationship that will see the Eavor Loop roll out globally across many markets.
