Ever since Jules Verne wrote in 1864 about a trip to the Earth’s interior, people have dreamed of bringing up heat from the centre of the planet. So far we have only scratched the surface, but researchers are now beginning to work down into the depths.

The fact is that 99 percent of the planet has a temperature above 1000°C. The heat is what’s left over from when the Earth was first formed, and there is more than enough of it for us to transform it into energy.

“The projects have taken off and we should have nearly 3,000 MW in three years,” predicts Fernando Tejeda, president of the Latin American Wind Energy Association, based in Guadalajara, adding that they are likely to cost US $5bn.

While adding 2,500 MW in three years might be tough for such an immature market, Eduardo Centeno of the Mexican Wind Power Association agrees the feat is possible. “The government is launching a lot of economic incentives to make this happen,” he points out, adding that more will likely be introduced in future.

Such incentives include exemptions on equipment imports and schemes to lower a project’s depreciation and amortization costs over its first ten years.

As the market comes together, some of Spain’s largest energy companies are moving in. Iberia’s renewable energy giants Iberdrola, Acciona and Gamesa are leading the largest wind park initiative – the 2,000 MW Oaxaca juggernaut that is set to come online in approximately three years.