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Hot Dry Rock CollectionMain MenuHot Dry Rock OverviewAt the Earth's CorePreliminary Study of the Nuclear SubterreneA Method of Extracting Heat from Dry Geothermal ReservoirsFenton Hill, New MexicoCandidate Sites for Future Hot Dry Rock Development in the United StatesMining the Earth’s Heat: Hot Dry Rock Geothermal EnergyCreditsJoshua Finnell57ae41618b76550ccf46776d4829c462ae03ca90Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library
Hot Dry Rock: A Realistic Energy Option
1media/Geothermal gradient.png2017-03-20T14:51:53-07:00Joshua Finnell57ae41618b76550ccf46776d4829c462ae03ca901629415plain2017-03-22T07:45:50-07:00Joshua Finnell57ae41618b76550ccf46776d4829c462ae03ca90In the March 1990 issue of the Geothermal Resources Council Bulletin, David Duchane continued to push for a second HDR site beyond Fenton Hills, New Mexico.
In 1970, the concept of utilizing HDR as a practical energy source was little more than science fiction. Today, after more than more than 15 years of intensive field work at Fenton Hill, the viability of this concept has been demonstrated in experimental systems. Worldwide interest in the development of this resource has led to active programs a number of countries. The goal for the future is to overcome existing impediments so that this abundant. widespread. and environmentally sound technology can be brought to the market by industry at an economically competitive price.
In this regard. the development of a so-called second-site HDR system in the United States is of paramount importance. The Los Alamos operation at Fenton Hill serves as a test-bed to demonstrate that HDR can provide a source of usable energy in practical quantities over a reasonable length of time. A second U.S. site at another location and in a different geological environment is essential to verify the general utility of the hot dry rock technology developed at Fenton Hill.