Superhot Rock Geothermal

Superhot rock (SHR) geothermal energy, defined as heat energy mined at temperatures of 400°C or hotter, is presented as a high-energy-density resource capable of providing competitive, dispatchable, zero-carbon power worldwide. While current geothermal capacity is limited to 15 GW in volcanic or thin-crust regions, SHR could potentially be accessed anywhere through super-deep drilling. The report estimates that mature SHR electricity could be competitive at $20-35 per MWh, producing five to ten times the energy per well compared to conventional systems. Realizing this potential requires overcoming engineering challenges in drilling (reaching 7-15 km), reservoir creation, and well metallurgy. The proposed path forward involves moving three to five pilot demonstrations forward in the next five years, transitioning from shallow hot dry rock to deep continental resources, and leveraging the expertise of the unconventional oil and gas industry to accelerate commercialization within 10 to 15 years.

• Superhot rock (SHR) geothermal systems, which operate at temperatures of 400°C or hotter, offer significantly higher energy density than conventional geothermal wells, potentially producing five to ten times the energy per well.
• Preliminary estimates suggest that once mature, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for commercial-scale SHR could be competitive, ranging between $20 and $35 per megawatt-hour.
• Commercialization of SHR depends on solving specific engineering challenges rather than scientific breakthroughs, specifically in super-deep drilling (7-15 km), heat-resistant well materials, and aseismic reservoir development.
• The report proposes a three-phase commercialization pathway: starting with pilot power demonstrations in volcanic regions (3-7 km depth), moving to initial commercial deployment in hot crustal regions, and finally achieving widespread global deployment via energy drilling at depths of 10-20 km.
• To jumpstart the industry, the report recommends advancing three to five SHR power demonstrations in dry rock settings within the next five years, citing the Newberry project in Oregon as a primary candidate.
• The unconventional oil and gas industry's expertise in directional drilling and drilling mechanization is viewed as a critical 'pivot opportunity' to accelerate SHR deployment over the next 10-15 years.
• SHR has the potential to support the production of zero-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, which could help decarbonize industrial processes and mobility.

APA

Hill, L. B., Chaisson, J., Herter, J., Ingersoll, E., Uddenberg, M., & Hill, J. (2021). Superhot Rock Geothermal. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/21091759/CATF_SuperhotRockGeothermal_Report.pdf

Chicago

Hill, L. Bruce, Joe Chaisson, John Herter, Eric Ingersoll, Matt Uddenberg, and Jenna Hill. Superhot Rock Geothermal. Clean Air Task Force, 2021. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/21091759/CATF_SuperhotRockGeothermal_Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hill |first1=L. Bruce |last2=Chaisson |first2=Joe |last3=Herter |first3=John |last4=Ingersoll |first4=Eric |last5=Uddenberg |first5=Matt |last6=Hill |first6=Jenna |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=October 2021 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/21091759/CATF_SuperhotRockGeothermal_Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hill2021superhot, author = {Hill, L. Bruce and Chaisson, Joe and Herter, John and Ingersoll, Eric and Uddenberg, Matt and Hill, Jenna}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/21091759/CATF_SuperhotRockGeothermal_Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }