Subsea geothermal test reportedly achieved 8.7 seconds of net-positive power
SCIENCEUnverifiedUpdated:
Ars Technica reports that Endurance Energy’s Adélie subsea geothermal prototype generated net-positive electricity for about 8.7 seconds during a test at Axial Seamount, a short demonstration of a power plant using seafloor hydrothermal heat.
A prototype operates near a natural hydrothermal vent
The report says Endurance Energy deployed its 100-kilowatt Adélie prototype near a natural hydrothermal vent after its drilled test well delivered too little fluid. On September 27, the turbine reached about 26,000 rpm and the generator produced 60 watt-hours of electricity. It reportedly delivered a median net power of about 2 kilowatts, peaking at 16.5 kilowatts, during the brief net-positive interval.
The report does not provide a directly comparable prior test measurement for this prototype.
According to Ars Technica, the test produced net-positive power—more electricity than the plant consumed—for about 8.7 seconds. The account says the run ended after a software safety stop and a cable failure.
Constraints remain after a brief net-positive result
The result is a limited technical demonstration of subsea geothermal generation rather than commercial operation. The report also describes unresolved constraints: sufficient fluid flow, dependable underwater operation, cable durability, and whether the approach can be cost-effective.
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