Geothermal Rising :: Using the Earth to Save the Earth
Using the Earth to Save the Earth

The Stabilizing Role of Geothermal in Geopolitics

Submitted by bschmidt on Nov 08, 2023
Date
Energy Markets
Energy Policy
Lithium Extraction
Stock photo of US lit up at night

The world’s energy and critical minerals supply chain have become incredibly interconnected between countries with dissonant ideologies. While this progress is in some ways positive, it also carries with it serious risks. Geopolitical tensions with energy and critical mineral controlling countries pose a threat to national security and technological progress. This was starkly highlighted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent fears that Russia might “turn off the tap” of natural gas which Europe so heavily relies on.

At the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Europe depended on Russia to supply 40% of its natural gas demands. No one country could offset European reliance on Russian natural gas. This conflict makes plain the necessity for a rapid, focused effort to reduce Europe’s energy reliance on Russia. One way European countries can and are working towards this goal is by deploying more geothermal energy, especially for cooling and heating of buildings and industry.  A diverse and environmentally conscious clean energy portfolio is an important part of energy security and energy independence, which is why geothermal should make up a larger percentage of electricity generation in America. Geothermal provides clean firm energy that pairs well with solar and wind when it comes to alleviating intermittency due to weather. Energy security in the United States will benefit from having a diversity of technologies. Geothermal is able to generate power for national transmission networks and distributed regional systems in partnership with other low-carbon technologies like solar, wind, hydro, battery storage, and nuclear. 

Critical minerals, such as lithium and manganese, are integral to technological progress and the clean-energy transition because of their use in solar panels, batteries, wind turbines, and more. Existing lithium supply chains are harmful to the mineral security of the United States and are rife with uncertainties. The Russo-Ukrainian War in and increasing ties between Russia and China underscore the geopolitical implications of the mineral-intensive clean energy transformation. China is the leader of lithium processing and actively procures lithium reserves from other major producers. Chinese state-mining operators often own mines in other countries from which vital clean energy minerals are sourced like cobalt and nickel. A domestic source of lithium from geothermal brines will greatly improve American energy and mineral security. 

Geothermal technologies are on the verge of unlocking vast quantities of lithium from naturally occurring hot brines beneath places like the Salton Sea, a two-hour drive from San Diego, California. Battery-grade lithium may be recoverable from naturally occurring geothermal brines after heat and steam are extracted for electrical generation. Accordingly, three geothermal operators at the Salton Sea geothermal field are in various stages of designing, constructing, and testing pilot plants for direct lithium extraction (DLE) from the hot brines, which are unique in their high concentrations of dissolved solids. Once DLE is proven and scaled up to full production capacity, the 11 existing power plants near the Salton Sea (generating 432 MW of clean electricity) could also produce about 20,000 metric tons of lithium metal per year, equal to 106,000 metric tons of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) per year. 

The annual market value of this LCE would be over $5 billion at current prices ($48,000/ton). This amount of lithium would supply ten times current U.S. demand for lithium metal (2,000 metric tons per year), with enough left over to support a new and self-sufficient domestic lithium battery manufacturing capacity as well as supply lithium exports to the rest of the world. The implications on energy and mineral security, global supply chains, and geopolitics may soon be positively impacted by geothermal technology and innovation like critical mineral recovery from geothermal brines.

Geothermal is unique in its potential to reduce two geopolitical risks with one stone: energy supply, but also critical mineral security. The same hot brine that is used to generate reliable, resilient electricity also contains critical minerals America needs for the clean energy transition, which will ultimately increase our energy independence and security.

Authors
Bryant Jones
Anine Pedersen

Geothermal Rising: Colorado Regional Interest Group (RIG) Holiday Party

Submitted by bschmidt on Nov 01, 2023
December 13, 2023, 6-8pm (Mountain Time)
Location
Museum of Earth Science, Colorado School of Mines
Date
Partner Event
GR Colorado RIG Holiday Party graphic

Event Title: Geothermal Rising – Colorado Regional Interest Group – Holiday Party!!

Date: December 13, 2023

Time: 6-8pm MT

Location:

Museum of Earth Science, Colorado School of Mines

1310 Maple St, Golden, CO 80401

https://www.mines.edu/museumofearthscience/

Event Description: Please join the GR Colorado Regional Interest Group for an in-person Holiday Party!! We will celebrate the holiday season with food and drinks, surrounded by Colorado’s most extensive public collection of minerals at the Mines Museum of Earth Science! We hope to see you (and +1s welcome) there!

Pricing information: $25/person

Event Capacity: 240

Secondary contact for the event: Geothermal.in.colorado@gmail.com

Unless otherwise indicated in written correspondence to the event organizers, through event registration you grant permission for GR to utilize photographs, recorded audio, or videos from the event in future GR articles or marketing materials.

Register Now

Full Steam Ahead Webcast Series -- Wells2Watts

Submitted by bschmidt on Oct 27, 2023
November 14 at 1pm (Pacific)
Date
Webinar
Golden field with small green trees in the background

Please join us for our next Full Steam Ahead Webcast where Rob Klenner and Jason Angolano from Baker Hughes will discuss Wells2Watts, a consortium of private industry stakeholders focused on transforming abandoned wells for geothermal production.

Attendance is free but registration is required.

Register Now

All the Advantages of Geothermal

Submitted by bschmidt on Oct 17, 2023
Date
Renewable Energy
Geothermal Power Production
Geothermal Direct Use
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Green grass and empty farmland with cloud skies above.
What is Geothermal Energy?

It is extraordinary to think that just beneath our feet there’s enough energy to meet all the world’s energy needs. It is an abundant resource that can be harnessed for human use. Geothermal is a clean and renewable energy source that remains underutilized despite it being a mature and proven resource. Geothermal is the most environmentally friendly energy technology, has the ability to decarbonize heating and cooling of buildings and industry, and can generate dispatchable and baseload electricity all from ample and local geothermal resources. Geothermal presents a compelling case for widespread adoption, and it must become one of the leading protagonists if we are to genuinely address the ongoing climate crisis and successfully transform into a clean energy economy.

The primary energy associated with geothermal is the heat energy that naturally exists beneath the Earth's surface! There are different ways to use the natural heat of the earth. Geothermal heat pumps (also known as ground source) utilize temperatures about two meters below the ground to heat AND cool buildings. Other geothermal technologies use heat energy several kilometres below that is at very high temperatures and is produced by the natural decay of materials within the Earth's crust. Importantly, geothermal energy is constantly replenished, therefore renewable!

Deep within the earth is the hottest part of our planet, the core, which is about 2,900 kilometres below our feet. The extremely high temperature of the core (5,200°C or 9,392°F) serves as limitless battery, recharging the heat beneath our feet that can be used to create geothermal heating, cooling, and power capabilities.

Here are some of the advantages of geothermal:

  1. Geothermal is always available: Like other renewable energy sources, geothermal is essentially unlimited, but unlike intermittent renewables it is not affected by season, climate or weather conditions. This is referred to a having high capacity factor of which geothermal has the highest of all renewable energy sources making geothermal a more stable, reliable, and consistent technology. Energy generated from this resource is easy to predict with a high degree of accuracy as it doesn’t fluctuate in the same way as other renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, and wind. Geothermal energy is both renewable and sustainable due to the hot reservoirs within the earth being continually and naturally replenished.
  2. Geothermal energy plants have a small footprint: Geothermal power plants as well as heating and cooling systems only require modest amounts of space, in contrast with the wide-ranging expanses of land and mining operations needed for intermittent, oil and gas, nuclear and coal energy. Whether it’s a domestic geothermal heat pump system or a large-scale geothermal power plant, most of the components, including the heat exchangers, are buried underground with very little remaining above ground. In homes, a geothermal heat pump is about the size of a household appliance while in geothermal power plants the largest components are the cooling towers and the turbines. Large geothermal power plants can have a visual impact on the landscape, but these days newer architectural designs minimize the visual impact on the landscape.
  3. Geothermal energy provides more energy: Aside from time for maintenance, geothermal energy can work at full capacity non-stop because delivery is constant. This is very different to photovoltaic, hydroelectric and wind systems which rarely work at full capacity due to technical and environmental limitations. This means that more power is generated using less land and for the same nominal power. For example, a 9 MW geothermal plant will on average generate energy for about 5,500 homes a year whereas the average 9 MW solar plant can power only 1,800 homes per year. This translates into a lower impact on the environment, less mining for critical minerals, and reduced risk of geopolitical conflict.
  4. Geothermal power plants are quiet: While working at full capacity, geothermal power plants run at negligible noise levels. As with all construction, during the building phase of the plants there will be some noise but once the construction is complete, everything runs quietly. This applies to not only geothermal heat pump systems but to larger power stations where several turbines are spinning.
  5. Geothermal energy is environmentally friendly: The carbon impact of a geothermal power plant is very low. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, geothermal has the smallest lifecycle carbon footprint of all renewable energy technologies, including wind and solar. Geothermal power generation produces little—if any—nitrous oxide, methane, or sulphur dioxide in contrast with other generation technologies. Binary-cycle geothermal plants, which operate in a closed cycle, release essentially zero emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office. By utilising the earth’s natural heat, geothermal energy significantly decreases our carbon footprint contributing to cleaner air and a healthier planet.
  6. Geothermal power optimises resources: Geothermal plants have components that can be salvaged and reused at the end of the installation’s lifecycle. Furthermore, during operation, the flows of energy are optimized in such a way as utilize any heat that can’t be used immediately for power generation back into the circuit using the steam pipes that power the plant, leading to greater energy efficiency. Geothermal does not require any critical minerals and all materials needed (steel and cement) are easily sourced from North America.
  7. Geothermal plants are long-lasting, safe, and reliable: Geothermal heat pumps have an operating life span of over 20 years whereas a traditional furnace last just 7 to 10 years. Geothermal power plants have very long life spans, with some lasting up to 80 and even over 100 years. Geothermal power plants such as Lardarello in Italy (1913), Wairakei in New Zealand (1958), and The Geysers in California (1960) still use original operational infrastructure and wells. This is remarkable longevity when compared to a natural gas combined-cycle plant which normally lasts around 30 years. Because there are no fuels involved there is no risk of fire and overall, this type of system guarantees excellent reliability. Additionally, geothermal power plants have low operating costs once the initial infrastructure is in place making them economically competitive in the long run.
  8. Geothermal plants require very little maintenance: Especially when it comes to geothermal heat pumps, geothermal applications don’t need any special maintenance. Because geothermal heat pumps are closed systems, the pressure of the fluid in the piping self-regulates and the number of electrical and mechanical elements that can break down is also minimal.
  9. Geothermal can be used to both heat and cool: Geothermal systems can be installed in almost any type of building: from homes to shopping malls, public buildings, and sports centres. A geothermal heat pump is actually a two-in-one HVAC system used for both heating and cooling. Despite the misleading name, geothermal “heat pumps” are just as effective at cooling your home or office in the summer as they are at heating it in the winter!
  10. Geothermal heat pumps can reduce overall energy consumption in your home: As well as providing air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter, geothermal has other advantages when used in the home. For example, it can reduce energy consumption by between 30% and 70% because it can also do the job of a boiler by heating water for use in the kitchen and bathroom.
  11. Geothermal improves public health: Traditional air-conditioning removes dangerous heat from buildings and provides life-saving shelter and comfort. Unfortunately, air-conditioning systems worsen two other problems. First, heat is not so much removed or eliminated as it is moved from one location to another. When a building interior is cooled, that thermal energy is transferred to the exterior surroundings. In dense urban areas, this effect increases local temperatures, exacerbating the heat wave in places that are already heat islands as a result of urbanization. A geothermal heating and cooling system can reduce building interior temperatures without heating the surrounding air space by storing and dissipating heat underground. Additionally, geothermal heat pumps are 40% more efficient than their air-source counterparts, especially at high and low temperatures. 
  12. Geothermal energy creates record numbers of jobs: Geothermal creates more jobs per megawatt hour than all other renewable energy technologies, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For the same installed power, geothermal energy creates more direct and indirect employment than any other type of renewable. Geothermal creates 34 jobs per installed megawatt compared to 19 created by wind power and 12 by photovoltaic energy.
  13. Geothermal pays local communities: Over the course of 30 to 50 years an average 20 MW geothermal generation facility will pay nearly $6.3 to $11 million dollars in property taxes plus $12 to $22 million in annual royalties. Seventy-five percent of these royalties ($9.2 to $16.6M) go directly back to the state and county.
  14. Geothermal energy can improve energy independence and security: Geothermal energy can contribute to enhancing a nation's energy independence and security. By utilising domestic and locally sourced geothermal resources, countries can reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels and critical minerals, minimizing geopolitical risks associated with energy supply chains. Developing geothermal projects can strengthen a nation's energy portfolio and provide a stable and secure source of energy for future generations.
  15. Geothermal energy has huge potential: Currently, worldwide energy consumption from geothermal resources is around 15 terawatts but the total potential energy from geothermal sources is far greater. While most of the geothermal potential is still yet untapped, there is robust research and development happening in the industry that will increase the number of recoverable geothermal resources in the future. It is estimated that new technologies to create Engineered, or Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), can add 100 gigawatts of geothermal power to the grid (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy). The 2019 GeoVision analysis concluded that, with advancements in EGS, geothermal could power more than 40 million U.S. homes by 2050 and provide heating and cooling solutions nationwide. Advancements in closed-loop or Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) will unlock even more opportunity for geothermal. Additionally, super-hot rock (SHR) technologies have the potential to generate terawatts of power.
  16. Geothermal energy use is rapidly evolving: There is growing interest and new research into geothermal innovations. New technologies, such as refined heat pumps, EGS, closed loop systems (AGS), SHR, improved drilling techniques, and more efficient turbines, are being created all the time to improve the energy process. There are an ever-increasing number of projects to improve and grow this area of industry. Within the last few years there have been over 40 geothermal energy start-ups founded in North America.

Geothermal energy has numerous advantages that make it an ideal option for a sustainable transformation to a healthier, more equitable, vibrant economy. With its renewable and clean nature, consistent availability, long-term viability, and versatile applications, geothermal energy offers a path towards a greener and more resilient and stable energy future. By embracing this remarkable resource, we can reduce our carbon footprint, combat climate change, and ensure a more sustainable and just planet for generations to come.

To learn more about harnessing the power of geothermal energy, contact Geothermal Rising, a community that advocates for the growth and deployment of geothermal energy. Founded in 1972, Geothermal Rising is a community of geologists, climate activists, oil and gas professionals, drill rig operators, environmentalists, geochemists, subsurface reservoir modelers and more. Geothermal Rising represents and speaks for an aligned geothermal industry. The non-profit is a renewable energy think tank designed to familiarize and inform audiences about the value and benefits of geothermal energy for heating and cooling as well as electricity generation. Please visit www.geothermal.org.

To learn more about renewable energy technology and how they can be deployed please visit: https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/

Scroll down to read about the many advantages the geothermal energy offers!
Authors
Bryant Jones
Anine Pedersen
Janet Richardson

2024 Geothermal Capitol Hill Day

Submitted by bschmidt on Oct 09, 2023
Join Geothermal Rising and the geothermal community for this opportunity to educate, inform, and share our story with policymakers, agency staff, think tanks, regulators, Hill staff, researchers, and clean energy and environmental NGOs working on policy in Washington, DC.
Location
Washington, D.C.
Date
Forum
Geothermal Rising Event
Stock photo of Washinton, D.C.

Join Geothermal Rising and your geothermal community colleagues, June 4-5, 2024, in Washington, DC, at the second annual Geothermal Capitol Hill Day.

This is the geothermal community’s opportunity to educate, inform, and share our story with policymakers, agency staff, think tanks, regulators, Hill staff, researchers, and clean energy and environmental NGOs working on policy in Washington, DC. The two day event has two purposes: 1) raise the profile of all geothermal technologies and applications to DC audiences and 2) share policy solutions that will empower the geothermal industry as our industry seeks to play an impactful role in the clean energy transition and decarbonizing the economy.

Join us in Washington to share and amplify the geothermal story and promote our ultimate goal of “Using the Earth to Save the Earth."

Capitol Hill Day Information

Agenda

Location

Registration

Sponsorship
Hill Day Sponsors

Gold Sponsor

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Silver Sponsor

Hill Day Silver

Bronze Sponsor

Hill Day Bronze

Thermal Energy Network Symposium

Submitted by bschmidt on Oct 09, 2023
Don't miss our upcoming symposium on Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) to be held in Rochester, Minnesota, March 12-14!
Location
Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, Minnesota
Date
Symposium
TENs Symposium
Symposium Overview - Why Thermal Energy Networks?

Cities and municipalities nationwide are facing the same energy-driven issue: how to reduce costs and increase reliability, while reducing and/or eliminating carbon emissions. Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) have quickly emerged as a leading solution ushering in a new frontier of cutting-edge applications. It started in the northeast with systems designed and installed in New York State and Massachusetts, with many other examples throughout the United States. New York enacted the Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act of 2022 which mandates utilities to implement Thermal Energy Networks. Many other states, such as Vermont, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington, and municipalities have similar legislation under development or have already passed similar legislation into law.

With such a huge inrush of need and the desire to install these infrastructure level projects at a utility scale, communities have questions: “How do we get in? Where do we start? What is the road map for successful implementation?”

We have the answers for you! At the Thermal Energy Network Symposium, government officials, city managers, legislators, developers, architects, and engineers will be in attendance in force. The purpose is to educate and collaborate with others about Thermal Energy Networks and the opportunities they provide to reach your communities’ renewable energy goals.

Participants will benefit from two days of insights, learnings, and information leaving them with a robust foundation on how to start their community or city on the path toward installation of these thermal energy networks. In addition, participants will have made valuable acquaintances and contacts that will help guide them along the way.

It is no small feat to tear up streets and install thermal pipelines that share energy between buildings; however, we now have the tools, the talent, the trades, and the engineering to do this at a time when geothermal solutions are more efficient and affordable than ever. All that is needed is for you to begin your journey by registering for the Thermal Energy Networks Symposium and be prepared to start your community on the path to energy independence.

Learn more about Rochester's TEN plans and the advantages of TENs!

 

Symposium Information

Agenda

Detailed Agenda

Hotel & Travel

Registration

Speakers

Sponsorship and Equipment Showcase
Symposium Sponsors

Community Engagement Sponsor

Egg Geo RESIZE ii

Gold Sponsor

MN Pipe Trades LOGO

Silver Sponsor

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Bronze Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Reception Sponsor

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Who Should Attend?
  • City/County Commissioners
  • City/County Managers
  • City/County Planners
  • Commercial Developers
  • Facilities Managers
  • Geothermal Experts
  • Regulators
  • Renewable Energy Non-Profits
  • Residential Developers
  • Schools
  • Sustainability Stakeholders
  • Utility Companies
What are Thermal Energy Networks?

Thermal energy networks are utility scale infrastructure projects that use pipe loops to connect multiple buildings and provide heating and cooling through water-source heat pumps. The thermal energy in these loops can come from a variety of sources, including geothermal aquifers, boreholes, surface water, and waste water.

Read more about Thermal Energy Networks in this MIT Technology Review article.

Participating Organizations
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World Geothermal Congress 2026

Submitted by bschmidt on Oct 09, 2023
The International Geothermal Association (IGA) has announced that Calgary (Canada), has been selected as the host city for the World Geothermal Congress 2026 (WGC2026).
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date
Conference
Stock photo of Calgary, Canada

The triennially held WGC is a coveted event for the global geothermal community, bringing together professionals worldwide to share knowledge, innovation, and best practices in geothermal energy.

Planning for WGC2026 in Calgary is set to commence immediately, with a formal handover slated to occur during the closing ceremony of the WGC2023 in Beijing, China.

More details coming soon!

WHY GEO?

Submitted by bschmidt on Sep 13, 2023
An online conversation with a wide range of local experts working in or adjacent to geothermal. Hosted by Vermont Community Geothermal Alliance.
Date
Webinar
Stock photo of Burlington, Vermont

OUR GUESTS

  • George Martin, LN Consulting on current geothermal projects in VT

  • Steve Smith, SAS Architects on designing with geothermal solutions

  • Dana Clawson, Sustainability Coordinator, Town of Hartford on why reusing heat matters 

  • Juliet Walsh, Office of Senator Peter Welch on her recent trip to Iceland as part of a congressional delegation traveling to learn more about geothermal

  • Plus special guests, including Brock Yordy on drilling and Bryant Jones of Geothermal Rising

We’ll find out what they’re excited about and what they think is needed to realize the potential of using the heat we already have under our feet and in our communities.  

We’ll also collect what people on the call want to know and how we can support more geothermal & thermal energy network development across our region.

Please join us on Tues, Sept 19 at noon.

More Information Here

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