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Quaise

Energy · Cambridge, United States · Founded 2018

Quaise Energy is a company developing a novel approach to geothermal energy production. The company's core technology revolves around a millimeter-wave drilling system, which is a departure from traditional drilling methods. This system, adapted from fusion research, is designed to drill up to 20 kilometers into the Earth's crust, reaching temperatures of over 400°C to access what is known as "supercritical" geothermal energy. The business model appears to be centered on retrofitting existing power plants, such as coal and gas facilities, to use this deep geothermal resource. This strategy could potentially reduce the cost and time of transitioning to a clean energy infrastructure by leveraging existing assets and workforce. The company's target market includes energy producers and utility companies that are looking to decarbonize their operations. By drilling to these depths, Quaise aims to unlock a consistent and powerful source of clean energy that is not dependent on weather conditions, unlike solar and wind power. The technology is also designed to avoid the need for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," which has been a source of environmental concern in other geothermal projects. The company has conducted field demonstrations of its drilling technology, marking progress toward its goal of making deep geothermal energy a viable and scalable energy source. Keywords: geothermal energy, millimeter-wave drilling, supercritical geothermal, clean energy, power plant retrofitting, deep drilling, gyrotron technology, energy production, decarbonization, sustainable energy