James Gray’s Post

For those who are not familiar with ORC and high temperature heat pump. Here is another synergy between both technologies.

Deep Dive into Geothermal's Future: A Reflection on Dr. Malcolm Ross's Geothermal Energy System Seminar at Rice University today. Today, I had the distinct privilege of attending an energy transition seminar at Rice University. A session that particularly resonated with me was Dr. Malcolm Ross's insightful talk on Geothermal energy. His deep dive into the latest developments and avant-garde technologies in geothermal energy was truly eye-opening. He illuminated the potential of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in such a manner that the audience was given a vivid glimpse into the sustainable energy future. He also touched upon the prospect of this technology being a potential black swan in the energy sector. A standout highlight was the groundbreaking work of Fervo Energy, a Houston-based startup. Their pioneering geothermal plant in western Utah, slated to be in full operation by 2028, promises a staggering 400 megawatts of round-the-clock electricity. What's especially intriguing about this technology is its minimal environmental footprint. The strategy is ingenious: create artificial reservoirs underground instead of being dependent on naturally occurring resources, which are largely contingent on specific geological settings. I am elated to share such pivotal advancements. It's not just about disseminating information; it's about celebrating the leaps we're making towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy landscape. Together, we can win this challenge together. For those intrigued by this development, the link is provided below. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Malcolm Ross for enlightening us all. #ChevronDigitalScholar #Chevron #GeothermalEnergy #EnergyTransition

In the realm of energy evolution, few advancements have held as much global influence as the U.S. shale oil boom, reshaping geopolitics and the biosphere. Now, the very technology that propelled this boom is being harnessed for a climate-friendly purpose. Houston-based startup Fervo Energy is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to geothermal power by leveraging horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracking techniques. Their recent 30-day well test in Nevada unveiled the extraordinary potential of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), achieving a monumental "flowrate of 63 litres per second at high temperature," generating a staggering 3.5 megawatts of clean electricity! ⚡🔋 Geothermal energy stands apart from solar and wind due to its consistent power generation, crucial for grid stability. Fervo's technology has the potential to unlock vast geothermal resources across the U.S., potentially contributing up to 20% of the country's electricity supply by 2050. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/d-9RC_2j #GeothermalInnovation #CleanEnergy #SustainableFuture #ClimateLeadership #RenewableRevolution

Quaise Energy, a geothermal energy spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is preparing to extract up to 10 times more energy by tapping into rocks at 700 Fahrenheit (375 degrees Celsius). Quaise’s approach involves using microwaves to vaporize the rock and access the geothermal energy. Conventional geothermal setups, including engineered geothermal systems (EGS), currently work at temperatures not exceeding 392 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Superhot water at 700 Fahrenheit would become supercritical and carry 3-4 times more energy than regular hot water. When brought to the surface to run turbines, this would result in up to three times more electricity generation A 2006 MIT research study found that tapping into just 2% of geothermal energy stored in rocks between 2 to 6 miles below the ground would provide over 2,000 times the annual energy consumption in the US. Interesting idea, but how practical or economic might it be? Is there cement, casing, tubing, seals that could withstand these temperatures? What does vaporizing the rock do it? #geothermal #MIT

It may be possible to repurpose fracking technology developed by the oil industry to potentially tap into an inexhaustible source of clean geothermal energy anywhere on Earth deep below our feet. Fracking is a technique of drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at a rock layer to ‘fracture’ it in a way that would allow the extraction of trapped gas or crude oil. Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) is a US Department of Energy project which aims to bring clean geothermal energy to the market at a competitive price and at grid scale. FORGE is currently conducting deep drilling experiments in the deserts of Utah and Nevada. In simple terms, water is being pumped deep into the super-heated rocks thousands of feet underground. The intense heat turns it into a jet of steam powerful enough to turn an electricity generating turbine. If the technology is perfected and made deployable globally, clean and reliable geothermal energy available round-the-clock can complement renewable energy from intermittent sources like solar and wind. #GeothermalEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Fracking #GeothermalWell #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #Sustainable #ZeroEmission #ClimateAction Deseret News

In California, the electricity generated by geothermal power plants declined by 15% between 2001 and 2018, in part because existing wells using conventional geothermal technology degraded. The right new technology offers not just a solution to making the most of already-operating geothermal fields, but also unlocking massive new geothermal development. XGS technology is an optimal solution for both existing wells and new geothermal development in previously unviable locations, TechCrunch reports. XGS’s approach to combining highly conductive materials with a closed-loop well architecture, which recycles working fluid in a fully sealed subsurface system, makes geothermal wells more productive, predictable and water-independent. Thanks to TechCrunch for covering our recent fundraising round and upcoming commercial-scale prototype. Read the article to learn more about that project, our technology and our plan to deliver 24/7 carbon-free energy to the grid near-term. #energy #geothermal #renewableenergy #greentech #geothermalenergy

Great to have Greenvale Energy Ltd visit at our UK demonstrator site with Zoe Stackhouse a key part of our recent study on using our #CerqPhiWell system to help unlock resources at the Mulligerra Basin. GreenVale Chief Executive Mark Turner said: "Being one of the first movers for geothermal in Australia was always going to present challenges. However, we now have confidence in the #CeraPhiWell technology, confidence that we can take to the Mulligerra Basin as well look to unlock the area’s immense geothermal potential,” Millungera Basin, an area east of Mount Isa which previous studies found potential for 611,000 petajoules of inferred geothermal energy. One petajoule was equivalent to 278 gigawatt hours, Greenvale said. Read the full Story: https://lnkd.in/e4kWCyG5

In the realm of energy sources, geothermal energy stands as an embodiment of the ancient parable of the blind men and an elephant (https://lnkd.in/gPe_hDTu). Just as the blind men each touched a different part of the elephant and experienced only a fraction of its true nature, so do we sometimes perceive geothermal energy through a narrow lens. But geothermal energy, like the elephant, reveals itself in diverse and multifaceted forms. In this article, Moones Alamooti, Mohammad Aljubran and I share the multifaceted nature of geothermal energy, drawing inspiration from the parable to reveal its versatility. Read on here: https://lnkd.in/g9PH7YeT Geothermal Rising GeothermalRisingStudents Committee Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University #geothermalenergy #renewableenergy

I'm leading a Castalia project that's been in the news, working with world-leading geothermal experts from GNS Science to identify the energy market opportunities for supercritical geothermal in the Taupō Volcanic Zone. Supercritical geothermal seeks to exploit higher pressure, higher temperature fluids deeper than conventional geothermal sources. Once technical challenges are overcome, supercritical geothermal could provide firm renewable capacity for the grid, and additional energy for process heat.

What's hot in Geothermal? 🔥 The Federation of American Scientists recently published the first of a series of reports focused on underinvested clean energy technologies and how the Department of Energy can implement programs to help these technologies overcome their specific challenges. The report, titled “Breaking Ground on Next-Generation Geothermal Energy,” focuses primarily on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and closed-loop or advanced geothermal systems (AGS), though conventional hydrothermal is also discussed. The challenges identified in the report include difficulties accessing funding/financing, underproduction due to uncertainty in the exploration and subsurface characterization process, high upfront costs, and an overly complex leasing process. To address these challenges, the FAS suggests that the Department of Energy could institute the following programs: Geothermal Development on Agency Land Drilling Cost-Share Program Risk Insurance Program Production Subsidy The report concludes that the U.S. is well-positioned to be leaders in the next generation geothermal industry, but that congress and the Department of Energy will need to provide the funding and policies that will help this young industry flourish. Read the full report here: https://buff.ly/48rD7wz