Outreach News

Did you know… there is a submarine volcano in Antarctica? Deception Island, Antarctica is home to an active submarine volcano which has created a large volcanic crater in the middle of the South Shetland Islands. The total land area of the island is 98.5 km2(~38.0 mi2), with a diameter of 15 km (~9.3 mi). The… Read More »

Did you know… Alaska uses geothermal energy to produce electricity? It might seem highly unlikely that geothermal energy could be harnessed in the Arctic climate of Alaska considering HOT water is required. However, this is not the case! Geothermal reservoirs can be found almost anywhere in the world. In fact, Alaska has 97 known thermal… Read More »

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Did you know... there is a geyser on one of Saturn's moons? And not just one, but over 100 huge water-vapor geysers occur at the south pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. They are believed to come from an ocean beneath the moon’s outer ice crust in which water comes to the surface through cracks in… Read More »

Did you know... Pamukkale is a travel HOT spot? Pamukkale is a western Turkish town known for the mineral-rich thermal waters that cascade over steep, white terraces that reach over 100 meters (~330 feet) high. Across the terraces, there are a total of 17 hot springs, which range in temperature from 35-100 degrees Celsius (95-212… Read More »

Did you know... that Paris has used geothermal energy to heat the homes of more than 2 million people? You might not think that Paris, the city of love, would be a major producer of geothermal energy – but it is! Paris has been using geothermal energy to heat houses since 1969. Under the famous… Read More »

Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-april-2021 Read More »

Did you know... geothermal wells can be highly deviated too? Just as in the oil industry, the first geothermal wells were all vertical, which remains common practice mainly because it is cost-effective. The maximum depth is typically about 10,000 feet (3 km). Deviated geothermal wells have been drilled too, extending laterally over horizontal distances up… Read More »

Did you know that the first wells were drilled over 2000 years ago? Drilling is an ancient technology and it has long been used to explore for natural resources and to produce fluids such as water, brine, oil and gas that occur underground. The Chinese drilled shallow wells over 2000 years ago to produce brine.… Read More »

Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-january-2020 Read More »

In yet another example of inter-departmental collaboration, Utah FORGE, a geothermal energy research project, is delighted to be working closely with Dr. Sara K. Yeo in the University’s Department of Communication, within the College of Humanities. The research being conducted by Utah FORGE near the town of Milford is focused on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)… Read More »

Inter-departmental cooperation has always been a hallmark of success for the University of Utah. The latest example of this cooperation is found in two seemingly disparate groups: Utah FORGE, a geothermal energy research project, and the College of Education. Harnessing the potential of geothermal energy could provide a great boost to the nation’s energy portfolio.… Read More »

Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-october-2020.PDF Read More »

Did you know… that Reykjavík is a city of geothermal energy? Did you know that the city of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, is widely recognized for its geothermal energy? Many first think of the word ‘ice’ when hearing Iceland, but surprisingly Iceland is also known for its use of Earth’s heat. Due to its… Read More »

In this first episode our host, Chris Katis discusses what geothermal energy is and how it is used today with our co-host Dr. Stuart Simmons, a geoscientist on the Utah FORGE team.   For future episodes check back our Videos and Podcasts page     Read More »

Conventional vs Unconventional … Dr. Stuart Simmons introduces us to renewable energy in the 21st century – this month learn about conventional geothermal resources and the basic concepts of heat transfer, enthalpy and power as well as where and how geothermal energy is utilized.   This is the first lecture of the geoscientific series of… Read More »

Did you know that some species incubate their eggs using geothermal heat? Megapodes represent a family of birds that are also known as incubator birds. They are found across Australasia, and they are known for their unique strategies to keep their eggs warm and safe. Depending on the local environment, incubating strategies range from building… Read More »

Geothermal energy has great benefits for people, but did you know that there are animals that use natural thermal heat in the form of hot springs and warm ground? Macaques, better known as snow monkeys, are found throughout the main Japanese Island of Honshu, and they are famous for soaking in local volcanic hot springs.… Read More »

Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Read More »

Did you know that the direct use of geothermal energy can be used to raise alligators? The direct use of geothermal energy can apply to almost any activity that requires heating (and cooling) for industrial, residential and agricultural purposes. The heat is transferred by hot ground water in the temperature range of 20-120°C (70-250°F) which… Read More »