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Underwater Volcano Powers First Geothermal Test
20 Oct
Summary
- First subsea geothermal plant tested near active underwater volcano.
- Prototype generated net-positive electricity for 8.7 seconds.
- Tonga plans commercial deployment of 2 MW generators in 2027.
The first demonstration of a subsea geothermal power plant occurred near an active underwater volcano, almost a mile deep, in the northeast Pacific Ocean. A 3-ton prototype successfully generated net-positive electricity for 8.7 seconds, proving the concept's technical feasibility.
Endurance Energy, the startup behind the project, aims to provide alternatives to fossil fuel imports for Pacific island nations. The 100-kilowatt plant, Adélie, utilized hot hydrothermal fluid from drilled wells, though initial tests faced challenges with fluid flow and software issues.
Future deployments are planned, including a refurbished Adélie (now Gentoo) in winter 2026-2027. Critically, the Kingdom of Tonga is set to receive a 2-megawatt commercial generator in 2027, potentially reducing its reliance on imported diesel fuel.
