Endurance Energy conducted the world's first subsea geothermal power plant test near the Axial Seamount volcano, generating less than 10 seconds of net-positive electricity at a depth of nearly a mile underwater. The three-week proof-point test demonstrated technical feasibility for tapping underwater geothermal energy, though experts note it will likely be more expensive than land-based geothermal projects.
Background
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from beneath the Earth's surface, with land-based installations already operational in volcanically active regions. Subsea geothermal remains largely untested at scale, representing a novel frontier in renewable energy exploration.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 20, 2026 at 03:27 AM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10