Gabriel Collins, J.D., Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Center for Energy Studies[1]
Strategic energy technologies often start small but can scale quickly with judicious front-end policy support if they possess competitive thermodynamic and technological advantages. Since World War II, the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies have played key roles in helping nuclear power, grid-size batteries, and other new energy concepts achieve commercial scale. Geothermal energy development now presents the next such development opportunity. As the US Energy Information Administration explains, “[t]he slow decay of radioactive particles in the Earth’s core” creates hot rock and subsurface water that can be tapped for direct heat and to create steam energy that spins turbines and generates electricity.
The Pacific Rim is one of the world’s most promising prospective places for expanding geothermal power development, with advantages for both local energy security, emissions reduction, and U.S. geoeconomic position. Alaska can anchor this new geoeconomic energy vector. America’s largest and westernmost state features strategically located ports, cities, and current (and likely future) military facilities that often sit atop or near areas of high geothermal potential.
To realize this potential requires financing “first of a kind” demonstration projects that, if successful, can de-risk the resource and catalyze broader regional scale-up. Achieving eventual multi-gigawatt scale would both enhance U.S. strategic resilience and, critically, the strategic resilience of allies such as Taiwan who face coercion, especially over energy, by China. Key government agencies’ substantial facility footprints, need for resilience, and ability to underwrite power purchase agreements can make them transformative early adopters…
Full article available from Foreign Policy here: https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/10/07/alaska-geothermal-military-china/
[1] This article exclusively consists of the author’s personal views and does not reflect the assessments or positions of any entity he is associated with.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Alaska a strategic location for geothermal energy?
Alaska is a strategic location for geothermal energy because many of its ports, cities, and current and likely future military facilities sit atop or near areas of high geothermal potential. Gabriel Collins argues the state can anchor a new U.S. geoeconomic energy vector across the Pacific Rim, one of the world’s most promising regions for geothermal expansion.
How does geothermal energy generate electricity?
Geothermal energy generates electricity by tapping hot rock and subsurface water to create steam that spins turbines. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, that heat comes from the slow decay of radioactive particles in the Earth’s core. The same underground resource can also supply direct heat, not only electric power.
What role could the U.S. military play in geothermal development?
Government agencies, including the Defense Department, could act as transformative early adopters of geothermal power. Collins notes they have substantial facility footprints, a need for resilience, and the ability to underwrite power purchase agreements. Since World War II, defense and other agencies have helped nuclear power and grid-size batteries reach commercial scale.
How could geothermal power in the Pacific help Taiwan?
Scaled-up geothermal power in the Pacific could strengthen the energy resilience of allies such as Taiwan, which face coercion by China, especially over energy. Collins argues that reaching eventual multi-gigawatt scale, starting with first-of-a-kind demonstration projects in Alaska, would enhance both U.S. strategic resilience and that of regional partners.
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