Superhot Rock Geothermal in the United States

The document highlights the massive potential of superhot rock geothermal energy in the United States, noting that just 1% of its resource could provide 4,291 GW of capacity and generate over 35 million GWh of electricity. It argues that this zero-emission, firm power source is more land-efficient than solar, wind, or biomass and offers a transition pathway for oil and gas workers.

• Preliminary modeling indicates that the United States possesses vast superhot rock resources; specifically, 1% of this resource could provide 4,291 GW of energy capacity and generate more than 35,711,192 GWh of electricity.
• Superhot rock geothermal is significantly more land-efficient than other energy sources, requiring approximately 12 square miles of land to produce 1 GW, whereas solar requires 180 square miles, offshore wind 520 square miles, and biomass 14,000 square miles.
• The technology provides 'firm power' that is available 24/7, which reduces the need for excess generation and transmission capacity. A study in California indicated that including clean firm power could reduce the need for new transmission by one-third.
• The development of the superhot rock industry could facilitate a professional transition for the United States oil and gas workforce, utilizing existing subsurface expertise and assets.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in the United States. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22145235/US-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in the United States. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22145235/US-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in the United States |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22145235/US-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 the United States}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22145235/US-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }