Which energy resource directly benefits from a higher geothermal gradient to improve feasibility?

• A. Solar PV
• B. Geothermal power
• C. Wind turbine
• D. BECCS

Answer: (B)

Geothermal gradient describes how temperature increases with depth underground. When that gradient is higher, rocks and fluids reach higher temperatures at shallower depths, making it more feasible and economical to extract heat for power generation. Hot reservoir temperatures improve the thermodynamic efficiency of converting heat to electricity and can reduce drilling depth and well costs, boosting plant viability and capacity. Because geothermal power directly uses underground heat, it benefits most from a higher geothermal gradient. Other resources—solar photovoltaic, wind, and BECCS—do not rely on subsurface heat gradients in the same way, so their feasibility isn’t directly improved by a steeper gradient.