The skyline at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (source: B.alotaby, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)The full report can be accessed via this link.
Superhot rock energy refers to geothermal energy harnessed from deeper, hotter dry rock systems with temperatures of over 400 °C. These systems can supply about five to ten times more energy per well compared to conventional hydrothermal systems. The CATF had previously published a comprehensive report on superhot rock systems, as well as an interactive map that highlights superhot rock projects around the world.
The potential of superhot rock in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia
According to a heat model developed by the CATF that estimates the depth to reach +400 °C temperatures, superhot rock exists across ~40% of the Middle East’s land area, amounting to more than 2.5 million square kilometers, at depths between 3 km and 12.5 km. A majority of this potential is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The total capacity potential of SHR if fully developed across countries with available heat in the Middle East (source: CATF)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is well endowed with superhot rock resources and leads the region in total heat accessible with current or next-generation drilling technologies (estimated to be 12.5km or less). According to the model, the available heat in Saudi Arabia has the potential to provide 1,791 GWe of energy capacity, roughly equivalent to a gross revenue stream of USD 1 trillion annually.
Fully realizing the potential of superhot rock can produce enough electricity to meet the total yearly electricity demand of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This includes the electricity consumed for seawater desalination which provides about 70% of Saudi Arabia’s drinking water. With over 15,000 TWh to spare, superhot rock energy can support a growing energy demand and catalyze new export-based economies of zero-carbon fuel production.
Harnessing oil and gas expertise
The Saudi Arabian Oil Group (ARAMCO), the majority state-owned petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia, is well poised to champion this zero-carbon solution both on domestic and foreign soil. ARAMCO maintains deep expertise in many of the technical areas needed to deploy superhot rock energy quickly and a fleet of international assets, such as drilling rigs and contractual partners, that could do so at a global scale.
For example, an intensive drilling and resource development program by well-funded consortia that include oil and gas industry players could provide the knowledge and innovation needed to develop and rapidly commercialize superhot rock energy.
