Oxford scholars study Volcanoes for renewable energy research
Last updated 1st Jul 2024
Oxford experts are examining a Caribbean volcano - to find sources for metals used in batteries and electric cars and how power can be generated from its heat.
Volcanoes emit copper, lithium, gold and other critical metals in their plumes say scientists from the Oxford Martin Programme on Rethinking Natural Resources
They're also looking at whether geofluids below dormant volcanoes could be a viable renewable energy at the site on the island of Montserrat.
This is the hope of creating a blueprint that can be applied to sites across the world.
Fluids called geofluids are found beneath dormant volcanoes, and recovering the minerals dissolved in them, at the same time as generating power, has the potential to make geothermal a viable renewable energy source.
They also have the potential to deliver a significant portion of the critical metals, like lithium which is needed for batteries, necessary for a net-zero energy transition.
Professor Jonathan Blundy, from the programme, told PA news agency: "We are using Montserrat as an example, as a blueprint, and we'll understand more about what we can do in Montserrat but also what we could do in other places.
"So I think maybe not in my lifetime, but in my children's lifetime, what we call the saline geofluids - the resource landscape that is getting metals and energy out of underground fluids - will feature very extensively in resources of the future.
"The reasons for doing the work have changed in a way because we now want to reduce our reliance on burning hydrocarbons.
He added that the processes and information learnt from Montserrat could be applied across the world, including in places like Cornwall where it is possible to drill a couple of kilometres deep and access hot liquids rich in lithium.