The heat given off by molten rock can be used as a highly efficient source of electricity.
The idea came from a chance encounter with molten material at a geothermal drilling project in Iceland, where the scientists accidentally struck a source of lava that had been releasing superheated steam for two years.
The scientists claimed that this steam could be used as an efficient way of generating electricity.
"Drilling into magma is a very rare event, and this is only the second known case in the world," said Professor Wilfred Elders of the University of California. "In the future this could bring about a revolution in the energy efficiency of high-temperature geothermal projects."
The group concluded that the steam from the well was capable of generating up to 36 MW of electric power.