Volcano power: Icelandic scientist plan to drill down to magma

Published On Oct 17, 2024, 7:03 PM

Scientists in Iceland are preparing to drill into the Krafla volcano's magma as part of the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) project. This initiative aims to enhance the understanding of underground magma behavior, which can improve eruption predictions and harness geothermal energy from extremely hot magma. The project hopes to drill two boreholes, with the first starting in 2026, creating a magma observatory and developing new geothermal energy technology. Currently, geothermal energy primarily sourced from hot fluids is a vital part of Iceland's energy production, and this research could revolutionize energy generation and safety measures related to volcanic eruptions worldwide.