2026 GRC Panel – The Wellbore is the Power Plant: Why Deep Closed-Loop Geothermal Changes Everything

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Tuesday, September 22

DID YOU KNOW?

Thermal energy networks (TENs) operate at lower temperature differentials than traditional district heating systems, allowing for reduced infrastructure costs.

Tuesday, September 22

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Session 3B: Panel – The Wellbore is the Power Plant: Why Deep Closed-Loop Geothermal Changes Everything

For over a century, geothermal energy has followed one premise: find hot fluid, bring it to surface, generate power. Conventional hydrothermal systems depend on the geological lottery of permeable reservoirs and favorable fluid chemistry. Enhanced Geothermal Systems attempted to engineer that permeability — but stimulation uncertainty, induced seismicity concerns, and water consumption have constrained their commercial trajectory. The result is a geothermal industry that, despite its enormous resource base, has remained geographically confined and difficult to scale.

Moderator: Alexis Garcia, NOV

Panelists:

Neil Ethier, Eavor Technologies Inc
Will Pettitt, Baker Hughes
Patricia Scroggin-Wicker, Burns & McDonnel
Lance Sollohub, XGS
Stephanie Vetsch, EAPOSYS

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