A range of technologies are under development to increase the efficiency of converting geothermal energy into electricity. Some geothermal resources, deep underground, hold no water and are referred to as hot dry rock. The U.S. geothermal program operated a facility in New Mexico in the late 1980s and early 1990s to pump water into a hot dry rock reservoir and extract its heat. Although the United States is not currently pursuing this technology, research continues in other countries. Geopressured Brines Hot methane-rich brines under high pressure are located along the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Research continues in other countries.
Magma Energy Extracting heat directly from magma has the potential to supply vast amounts of energy. U.S. research in magma has been limited, but research continues in other countries.