A Preliminary Techno-Economic Model of Superhot Rock Energy

The report presents a preliminary techno-economic model for superhot rock energy, estimating that Nth-of-a-kind (NOAK) plants could achieve a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) between $20-35 per megawatt-hour (MWh). The model categorizes costs into well field development, power plant construction, and project financing, assuming a 250 MWe plant capacity and a 30-year lifetime. Key findings indicate that flow rate is the most significant driver of LCOE, while reductions in drilling costs alone have a relatively minor impact on overall capital expenditures. The analysis compares two technology regimes: one based on current drilling and casing technology and another assuming advanced 'energy drilling' that eliminates the need for casing. The report emphasizes that commercialization depends on breakthroughs in high-temperature materials, such as casing and cementing, and thermal reservoir creation.

• For an Nth-of-a-kind (NOAK) plant, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is predicted to be between $20-35 per megawatt-hour (MWh), which would make the technology competitive in nearly every global electricity market.
• Flow rate is identified as the most influential variable driving the economics of superhot rock energy, followed by plant capacity and the learning curve for drilling costs.
• The model indicates that dramatic reductions in drilling costs do not significantly lower capital expenditures (CapEx) or LCOE because drilling represents a relatively small percentage of overall costs.
• The cost of the first well is estimated at $22.8 million, with a logarithmic learning curve assuming the 10th well costs 75% of the first.
• The model assumes a 250 MWe plant with a total installed cost of approximately $536.4 million, with a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 8%.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2023). A Preliminary Techno-Economic Model of Superhot Rock Energy. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/26120004/shr-technoeconomic_2023report.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. A Preliminary Techno-Economic Model of Superhot Rock Energy. 2023. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/26120004/shr-technoeconomic_2023report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=A Preliminary Techno-Economic Model of Superhot Rock Energy |date=November 2023 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/26120004/shr-technoeconomic_2023report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2023preliminary, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{A Preliminary Techno-Economic Model of Superhot Rock Energy}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/26120004/shr-technoeconomic_2023report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }