Developments in Renewable Hydrogen Electrolysis by Supercritical Geothermal Cogeneration

Geothermal energy is growing in importance because its power is needed to balance the intermittent sources of energy, primarily wind and solar, and to produce non-polluting hydrogen to replace the fossil fuels that are burned to enable transportation and many other necessary uses of energy, such as responding to emergencies and ending climate change. The current methods of producing geothermal are not adequate in producing energy to resolve the foregoing issues. Supercritical geothermal resources can provide energy in large quantities. Unfortunately, new technologies and materials are needed to reach that stage, including the performance of electrolysis at temperatures in the range of 600 to 800°C. The current technology for geothermal energy is usually very reliable, with 94% availability. Unfortunately, such supercritical electrolysis is occasionally stopped by “breakaway” oxidation. Advances in techniques and materials are being introduced to supercritical geothermal technology that can prevent “breakaway” oxidation in supercritical geothermal and achieve a new availability of energy.