Magma Energy Overview and Status Report

Up to 500,000 Quads of thermal energy are believed to be contained in crustal magma bodies within the U.S. at temperatures in excess of 600 C and at depths less than 10 km. Scientific feasibility of utilizing this energy resource was concluded after a seven-year study that culminated in successful energy extraction experiments in molten rock at Kilauea Iki lava lake. The current DOE program is developing technology to experimentally extract energy from a silicic magma body so that engineering feasibility of the magma energy concept can be evaluated. At this point, significant progress has been achieved in three areas: Geophysics and site selection. Energy Extraction Processes, and Geochemistry/Materials. Future activities will be focused by drilling and evaluating a deep exploratory well in Long Valley caldera where active magma is expected