Zanskar claims US geothermal vastly underestimated — SkimNews
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- Zanskar argues that the US holds up to ten times more undiscovered conventional geothermal resources than the USGS's 2008 estimate of 30,000 megawatts, and that each site can produce ten times more energy than assumed
- Zanskar used AI to identify a 'blind' geothermal resource in Nevada — with no surface signs or prior drilling — marking the first such discovery in 30 years
- Zanskar repowered a written-off geothermal plant at Lightning Dock in New Mexico, demonstrating the potential to revive previously abandoned sites
- Zanskar signed a 100-megawatt power purchase agreement with NV Energy to supply carbon-free electricity for Amazon data centers, validating commercial demand
- Carl Hoiland and Joel Edwards say outdated exploration methods from the 1970s–80s led to stale assumptions about geothermal scarcity, and that modern AI models can reinterpret old data to find new systems
- Conventional geothermal depends on naturally hot, permeable rock and is currently limited to the western US, but Zanskar’s findings suggest it could be far more abundant than thought
Why it matters: If Zanskar’s AI-driven estimates are correct, conventional geothermal could supply all current US electricity demand using existing drilling tech — not just a marginal clean source, but a foundational one. That would shift energy planning, reduce reliance on enhanced geothermal, and accelerate firm clean power deployment without needing unproven engineering.
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