Superhot Rock Geothermal in Idaho

The document highlights superhot rock geothermal as a scalable, zero-emission energy source that could significantly exceed Idaho's current electricity needs while requiring minimal land. It argues that this technology provides essential 'firm power' that enhances grid stability and reduces the need for extensive new transmission infrastructure.

• Superhot rock geothermal is an emerging technology that pumps water into deep underground rocks to produce steam for carbon-free electricity, clean hydrogen, and high-energy-intensity products. Unlike traditional geothermal, it does not require natural underground water sources, making it potentially viable globally.
• Preliminary modeling indicates that Idaho possesses vast superhot rock resources; just 1% of the state's resource could provide 408 GW of energy capacity and generate over 3,395,986 GWh of electricity, which is 132 times Idaho's 2023 electricity consumption of 25,674 GWh.
• Superhot rock geothermal is highly energy-dense with a significantly lower land footprint than other energy sources. Producing 1 GW requires approximately 12 sq mi of land, whereas natural gas requires 160 sq mi, solar 180 sq mi, offshore wind 520 sq mi, and biomass 14,000 sq mi.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in Idaho. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22150155/Idaho-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in Idaho. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22150155/Idaho-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in Idaho |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22150155/Idaho-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in Idaho}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22150155/Idaho-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }