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Super Villain-esque Volcano Power Plants Are Becoming Reality
Harnessing the power of liquid hot magma
Iceland is one of the most geologically active countries in the world. The island is home to various volcanoes, hot springs, and ancient lava fields. All of these surface features betray the presence of extreme forces acting below the surface. Iceland sits over a volcanic hotspot that has extremely hot magma sitting at a relatively shallow depth below the surface. The magma is so shallow, in fact, that it is accessible by humans via drill.
Scientists are working on the next generation of geothermal energy plants that will harness the power of magma to create electricity for people around the world. Volcano power plants sound like something out of a spy novel but they are quickly becoming a reality.
How Volcanic Power Generation Works
Building a geothermal plant atop a volcanic area can be extremely effective. The newest ideas about how to tap into the power of Earth’s volcanoes revolves around extremely basic principles — water, heat, and steam. If you have ever seen the videos of lava pouring into the ocean you get the idea.
Engineers will dig shafts deep into the ground, similar to oil well shafts until they reach the extremely hot areas around…
