Dr. Andri Stefánsson - Supercritical hydrothermal fluids in volcanic geothermal systems

Geothermal energy is a sustainable and reliable power source, utilizing Earth's internal heat for electricity and heating. Conventional volcanic geothermal systems draw on magmatic heat sources ranging from 800 to 1200°C, though current geothermal resources are typically below 350°C. A new frontier involves supercritical geothermal resources—fluids at extreme temperatures within the Earth's crust—or drilling into magma to create supercritical engineered systems. These supercritical fluids hold immense, untapped potential to enhance geothermal power plant efficiency, offering a green energy solution for future generations. This study explores the chemical composition and controls of supercritical hydrothermal fluids using molecular-level analysis, experiments, thermodynamic modeling, and comparisons with fluids in active volcanic geothermal systems.