The Potential for Superhot Rock Energy in Oceania

The document argues that Oceania possesses significant superhot rock energy potential, with modeling suggesting that 15% of the region's land area has resources at depths below 12.5 km. It highlights that just 1% of this resource could provide 1.1 terawatts of energy capacity. The report suggests that the region's existing oil and gas expertise could be leveraged to commercialize this technology, which offers high energy density and low land-use requirements compared to other renewables. While not expected to meet 2030 climate goals, it is presented as a long-term solution for decarbonization and grid stability.

• Preliminary modeling indicates that superhot rock energy potential exists across approximately 15% of Oceania's land area, which is more than 480,000 square kilometers, at depths exceeding 12.5 km.
• The scale of the resource is vast; 1% of Oceania's superhot rock resource could potentially provide 1.1 terawatts of energy capacity and generate nearly 9,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity.
• Superhot rock energy is characterized by extremely low land-use requirements, needing roughly 12 square kilometers for 1 GW of energy, which is significantly less than natural gas (160 sq km), solar (180 sq km), offshore wind (520 sq km), or biomass (14,000 sq km).
• Mature superhot rock energy resources could be cost-competitive with conventional power, with global average prices potentially as low as $25-40 (USD) per MWh for Nth-of-a-kind plants.
• Oceania's existing oil and gas sector provides a strategic advantage for deployment due to its subsurface expertise, infrastructure, and workforce, which could transition into a zero-carbon employment pathway.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2024). The Potential for Superhot Rock Energy in Oceania. https://www.catf.us/superhot-rock/heat-mapping/oceania/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. The Potential for Superhot Rock Energy in Oceania. 2024. https://www.catf.us/superhot-rock/heat-mapping/oceania/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=The Potential for Superhot Rock Energy in Oceania |date=21 March 2024 |url=https://www.catf.us/superhot-rock/heat-mapping/oceania/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2024potential, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{The Potential for Superhot Rock Energy in Oceania}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.catf.us/superhot-rock/heat-mapping/oceania/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }