Over the coming decades, superhot geothermal will race past intermittent, low density, non-dispatchable alternatives as the leading source of renewable energy.
Currently, geothermal pioneers like Mazama and Quaise are focusing on a volcanic area in Central Oregon, a superhot “hot spot.” The area is unique in that temperatures of 700°F occur at subsurface depths of ~15,000′. (By comparison, the highest bottomhole temperatures in high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) wells in the Norphlet and Wilcox formations in the Gulf are <420°F.)
Mazama Energy’s second geothermal well, Athena, at Newberry, Oregon, reached a depth of 10,350 feet through volcanic rock in 15 drilling days. Their Project Athena builds on the 2025 record breaking effort at Newberry where Mazama created the world’s hottest engineered geothermal system (EGS) pilot at 629°F (331°C). Mazama continues drilling and is targeting temperatures exceeding 750°F.
Quaise Energy’s intends to establish the world’s first superhot geothermal energy power plant with Project Obsidian. See the video below.
The extent to which Quaise will employ their “Star Wars” millimeter wave gyrotron drilling system on the relatively shallow Oregon wells is uncertain. Gyrotron drilling will be critical if superhot power plants are to be established in areas where much deeper wells are needed to reach superhot temperatures.
