The 3.3 billion project would involve construction not only of the new cable, but also of more geothermal plants to produce enough energy to export.

And, unlike renewable technologies such as wind, hydro and solar that are affected by changes in the weather, geothermal plants can run almost continuously.

Geothermal plants need no boiler since they use naturally occurring steam sources.

Geothermal plants use per gigawatt of electrical production (not capacity) versus 32 km2 and convert for coal facilities and wind farms respectively.

Geothermal plants, nuclear plants, coal-fired plants and bioenergy plants that burn solid material are almost always operated as base load plants.