Endurance Energy conducts subsea geothermal power test at Axial Seamount
Seattle-based Endurance Energy has completed a three-week trial of a prototype geothermal plant positioned near an active underwater volcano.
Endurance Energy recently concluded a trial of a 3-ton prototype power plant located at the Axial Seamount in the northeast Pacific. Situated nearly a mile below the ocean surface, the facility successfully generated a brief interval of net-positive electricity during the September deployment, marking a milestone for subsea energy extraction.
The project aims to demonstrate that geothermal energy can be harvested from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. By utilizing deep-sea conditions, the system leverages naturally cold seawater for cooling and relies on high ambient water pressure to maintain plant stability.
CEO Andrew Redd stated that the configuration allows for more compact infrastructure compared to terrestrial geothermal sites. Endurance Energy intends to focus on developing these systems to provide alternative power sources for Pacific island nations currently dependent on imported fossil fuels.