Geothermal energy is often associated with visible features like geysers and hot springs, but many potential geothermal hotspots remain hidden deep beneath the Earth’s surface. A startup named Zanskar is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computational techniques to discover these concealed geothermal reservoirs. Their recent announcement reveals the identification of a blind geothermal system in the western Nevada desert, marking the first confirmed commercial prospect of its kind in over three decades.
Traditionally, the search for new geothermal sites involved extensive drilling, often requiring significant financial investment without guaranteed results. Zanskar’s innovative approach harnesses the power of AI to make the process more efficient and accurate. According to Carl Hoiland, the company’s CEO and cofounder, their goal is to tackle a long-standing challenge in geothermal exploration: to identify and verify hidden resources that may be much larger than previously estimated. The newly discovered site, dubbed Big Blind, boasts a reservoir with temperatures reaching 250 °F at a depth of approximately 2,700 feet. This discovery comes at a crucial time as global electricity demand rises, and geothermal power can offer a reliable, low-emission energy source.
Zanskar has employed its AI technology to pinpoint numerous potential geothermal hotspots across extensive regions. As the CTO Joel Edwards notes, they have identified dozens of promising sites, but Big Blind stands out due to thorough field validation. The initial phase of their process involves training regional AI models on known geothermal locations and simulations, subsequently feeding them a variety of geological and satellite data, including information about fault lines. The AI models can analyze this complex data to predict the likelihood of hot spots. Once a potential site is identified, Zanskar’s field crew conducts further investigations, including drilling shallow holes to assess underground temperatures. The successful drilling at Big Blind led to the acquisition of a federal lease, paving the way for the establishment of a geothermal power plant. As the team moves forward with obtaining necessary permits and securing investments, they will continue to conduct tests to monitor heat and water flow at the site. Experts, including John McLennan from Utah FORGE, express optimism regarding this new methodology for discovering large geothermal features, suggesting that Zanskar’s discovery could signify the beginning of a new wave of geothermal energy development.
Source: How AI is uncovering hidden geothermal energy resources via MIT Technology Review