๐The Next Web (TNW)โขFreshcollected in 2h
Quaise Raises $134M to Drill Superhot Rock with Microwaves
๐กNovel use of high-power microwaves for deep-earth drilling shows the future of AI-optimized industrial hardware.
โก 30-Second TL;DR
What Changed
Raised $134 million in Series B funding led by Prelude Ventures
Why It Matters
Successful implementation could revolutionize renewable energy by providing near-limitless baseload power. It demonstrates the application of high-energy physics and advanced control systems in industrial hardware.
What To Do Next
Explore how high-power microwave control systems are modeled and optimized using AI-driven simulation tools.
Who should care:Developers & AI Engineers
Key Points
- โขRaised $134 million in Series B funding led by Prelude Ventures
- โขTechnology uses high-power microwaves to vaporize rock
- โขAiming to reach depths of several kilometers for geothermal energy
- โขOvercomes limitations of traditional mechanical drilling in extreme heat
๐ง Deep Insight
AI-generated analysis for this event.
๐ Enhanced Key Takeaways
- โขQuaise Energy's technology is rooted in research originally conducted at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, specifically utilizing gyrotron technology.
- โขThe drilling process relies on millimeter-wave radiation to melt and vaporize rock, effectively creating a borehole without the mechanical wear associated with traditional drill bits.
- โขThe company aims to retrofit existing fossil fuel power plants by replacing coal or gas boilers with geothermal steam generators, potentially extending the lifespan of energy infrastructure.
- โขThe superhot geothermal energy targeted by Quaise involves reaching temperatures exceeding 373 degrees Celsius, where water enters a supercritical state, significantly increasing energy extraction efficiency.
- โขThe Series B funding round included participation from existing investors such as Safar Partners, TechEnergy Ventures, and others, signaling continued confidence in the long-term technical roadmap.
๐ Competitor Analysisโธ Show
| Competitor | Technology Approach | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Fervo Energy | Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) | Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing |
| Eavor Technologies | Closed-loop geothermal (radiator) | Conductive heat extraction without fracking |
| Sage Geosystems | Geothermal energy storage | Pressure-based energy storage and extraction |
๐ ๏ธ Technical Deep Dive
- Core technology utilizes gyrotrons, which are vacuum tubes capable of generating high-power millimeter-wave radiation.
- The millimeter-wave beam is directed through a waveguide to the bottom of the borehole, where it vaporizes rock into plasma.
- The vaporized rock is removed from the hole via gas circulation, allowing for continuous drilling progress.
- The system is designed to operate at depths of up to 20 kilometers, where temperatures can reach 500 degrees Celsius.
- Unlike mechanical bits that soften and fail at high temperatures, the microwave approach is enhanced by the ambient heat of the deep crust.
๐ฎ Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources
Quaise will achieve a pilot-scale geothermal steam demonstration by 2028.
The Series B funding is specifically earmarked for scaling the gyrotron drilling system from laboratory settings to field-ready prototypes.
The company will successfully repurpose a decommissioned coal plant for geothermal power.
Their business model explicitly targets the utilization of existing steam turbine infrastructure to reduce the capital expenditure of new geothermal plants.
โณ Timeline
2018-01
Quaise Energy is founded based on research from MIT.
2021-06
Company secures $6 million in seed funding to develop millimeter-wave drilling.
2022-02
Quaise raises $40 million in Series A funding led by Safar Partners.
2024-05
Company demonstrates successful rock vaporization in laboratory-scale testing.
2026-07
Quaise announces $134 million Series B funding round.
๐ฐ
Weekly AI Recap
Read this week's curated digest of top AI events โ
๐Related Updates
Same topic
Explore #geothermal
Same product
More on quaise-energy-geothermal-drilling
Same source
Latest from The Next Web (TNW)
Waymo robotaxis face operational failures during July 4th
The Next Web (TNW)โขJul 7
Netflix adds short-form video from major publishers
The Next Web (TNW)โขJul 7
Over 100 Autonomous Forterra ATVs Deployed in Ukraine
The Next Web (TNW)โขJul 7
Predatorgate Victims Sue Spyware Maker for โฌ8M
The Next Web (TNW)โขJul 7
AI-curated news aggregator. All content rights belong to original publishers.
Original source: The Next Web (TNW) โ