Geothermal: cheap way to experiment???

[jinman]

Are we sure they are not using geothermal to produce electricity in Hawaii? I have no idea how their energy is produced.

They produce enough power to heat every home in Hawaii in the winter.

 

[schmism]

I consider myself a "pragmatic environmentalist". Even though it's a national park, if I had my way, I'd drill wells in every square hectometer of the big island of Hawaii (active lava underneath: Kilauea) and mine geothermal energy. (It's all just going to get covered by lava again someday anyway, or erode away.) I'd then step the voltage way up and lay the mother of all monster cables from there to the mainland.

Am I the only one who wonders why they don't do geothermal in a place like that?

na, just put some thin film solar panels in space for the same 5700 mile extension cord puts you in a decent orbit. then you just let the cord dangle.
for bonus points make your extension cord a space elevator lift ribbon. (double your pleasure double your fun!)

 

[sodamo]

Actually, we do have a geothermal plant here producing energy. Need to change the antiquated, union job protecting laws that means they pay the oil avoidance cost for that energy - meaning it still isn't cheap. Capacity is limited, with the utility company blaming it on insufficient transmission capability. I think we have the highest cost utility produced electricity in the US, maybe the world. I'm thankful I'm totally off-grid.

Now, about that solar extension cord...

David

I consider myself a "pragmatic environmentalist". Even though it's a national park, if I had my way, I'd drill wells in every square hectometer of the big island of Hawaii (active lava underneath: Kilauea) and mine geothermal energy. (It's all just going to get covered by lava again someday anyway, or erode away.) I'd then step the voltage way up and lay the mother of all monster cables from there to the mainland.

Am I the only one who wonders why they don't do geothermal in a place like that?

 

[marks]

Have you considered using a walk-behind trencher, and using multiple trenches?

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

yeah, with my septic, i don't really have the room.....

for all of the typical ways i think i'm outta luck but it seems like folks on here have some creative ideas or something different....

Have you considered using a walk-behind trencher, and using multiple trenches?

 

[Taylortractornut]

A frind of mine at his house he just bought found a 100 foot roll of 6 inch pipe the previos owner had it from an auction and gave up trying to drill all the holes in it for a drain pipe. I was out there with my excavator and he was having trouble with his central unit. He asked about how cool it was underground I told him about 55 degree. He had me dig 100 foot trench 7 feet deep with one end otf the pipe up. and the other capped off above ground. he put an ac electronics fan on the far side and let it push air through the pipe. In the summer he has a wooden plate to fit his open window with anouther pipethat runs to the capped pipe. it supplies most of his cool air in the summer. and warm air in ther winter. We have to put a moisture sump in it though about evey sixmonths it gets a little ocket of water in it.

 

[heehaw]

the drilling rig i have seen that was used for geothermal wells, was considerably smaller than any well drilling setup i have ever seen: you might check with someone local that installs geothermal and see what they use: they could have a small enough rig to get into a tight spot.
heehaw