【New Energy Development】Clean energy source of dry hot rock discovered in Shandong; could be used for power generation
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The reporter learned from the First Geological and Mineral Exploration Institute of Shandong Province that, while carrying out the project titled “Survey and Evaluation of the Potential for Dry Hot Rock Resources in the Blue Economy Zone of the Shandong Peninsula,” the institute measured a rock temperature of 110°C at a depth of 1,240 meters while drilling the ZKCW01 temperature measurement well in Wendeng. This represents the best-condition dry hot rock found so far in eastern China. Experts predict a high likelihood that in the future it will be possible to \"inject cold water to produce steam,\" which could support the construction of geothermal steam power plants similar to those in Yangbajing, Tibet. The final drilling depth of this borehole was 2000.76 meters, and the actual temperature at the bottom of the borehole was 114.12°C, which represents the highest temperature recorded to date in dry hot rock exploration boreholes in eastern China. Four sections of hot rock with high temperature gradients (5.3°C–18.59°C/100m) were found within the borehole; it is predicted that the temperature at a depth of 4000m will be as high as 150°C–200°C, indicating that it belongs to a high-temperature dry hot rock geothermal system. Based on calculations using the measured ground temperature gradient data, the geothermal flux value for this borehole is 92.86 mW/square meter, which represents the highest geothermal flux value ever recorded in the Jiaodong region. This value enriches the geothermal flux database of Shandong Province and provides evidence supporting the deep thermal structure characteristics of a \"cold crust and hot mantle\" in the Jiaodong region.
It’s not just Wendeng. The institute has also identified two areas with concentrated deep heat sources in Wendeng and Zhaoyuan; these areas are located at the back edge of the subduction zones between the Pacific Plate and the Eurasian Plate, covering a total area of 5,585 square kilometers and including parts of Wendeng District, Weihai, Zhaoyuan, Laizhou, Qixia and other cities and counties. Using the volume method for preliminary calculations, the hospital determined that the heat stored in the dry hot rock at depths of 3–10 kilometers beneath these two deep heat source areas is approximately 1.96×1022 joules, which is equivalent to 6.68×1011 tons of standard coal. Even if only 2% of this heat is utilized, it would be sufficient to supply the entire province for 38 years. Experts from a surveying institute in Shandong explained that the ability to accurately define the target area is due to theoretical breakthroughs achieved by the institute in its research on the evolution of regional geological structures and the patterns of magmatic hydrothermal activity. It is obtained through comprehensive analysis of geophysical and geochemical data, combined with technical methods such as remote sensing interpretation, geothermal field measurement, and geophysical exploration. It is reported that at present, our province is seeking further research projects to conduct more in-depth investigations into the conditions for developing dry hot rock in this region. Several thermal power plants have shown great interest in this resource. Experts say that dry hot rock resources represent a clean energy source with enormous potential. Their utilization is mainly focused on power generation and heating; the cost of generating electricity from these resources is much lower than that of coal or nuclear power, and they do not cause any pollution. Its benefits are no less than finding a large gold mine.