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Former National minister Tim Groser joins Toby to explain why they're plunging a drill into the magma beneath the Taupō volcanic zone – and how supercritical geothermal success could prove a gamechanger for energy security, for climate change and for the economy as a whole.Plus: In How Good, NZ Fashion Week is under way. Emma Gleason picks her highlights.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at thespinoff.co.nz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the same drilling technology that powered the shale boom could be redirected to produce clean, carbon-free electricity around the clock? In this episode of Business For Good, Paul Shapiro sits down with Tim Latimer, CEO and chairman of Fervo Energy, to explore how a former oil and gas drilling engineer built one of the most celebrated clean energy companies in the country in under a decade. Tim started Fervo in 2017 with two core beliefs: that the world would need more reliable clean electricity, and that advances in horizontal drilling had made geothermal energy dramatically more cost-effective than anyone in the geothermal industry realized. Those beliefs led to a partnership with Google, a pilot project in Nevada that produced the first horizontal geothermal well ever drilled, and a 2026 IPO that raised over $2 billion. The conversation covers why geothermal has remained a rounding error in the energy mix for over a century, how Fervo reduced drilling times from 70 days to 21 days in just four years, why their process differs fundamentally from oil and gas fracking, and what milestones investors should watch as the company scales toward 500 megawatts at its Project Cape site in Utah. Things You Will Learn: Why geothermal energy has remained less than 1% of U.S. electricity despite being over a century old. How horizontal drilling technology borrowed from oil and gas is transforming the cost structure of geothermal power. Why Fervo's process is structurally different from fossil fuel fracking, even though it borrows similar techniques. How Fervo went from startup to a multi-billion-dollar publicly traded company in under a decade. Where the next wave of geothermal entrepreneurship opportunities may emerge across the value chain. Tools & Frameworks Covered: Horizontal Drilling for Geothermal: Applying directional drilling techniques from the oil and gas industry to access deeper, hotter rock formations and dramatically increase well productivity compared to traditional vertical geothermal wells. The Earned Secret Framework: The idea that successful startups are built on insights that incumbents have missed, whether because the timing was not right, the technology had not yet transferred across industries, or conventional wisdom had not caught up with reality. Investors Invest on a Line, Not a Point: A fundraising philosophy emphasizing consistent delivery against stated milestones over multiple rounds, building credibility that compounds with each stage of execution. #BusinessForGood #SustainableBusiness #CleanEnergy #FutureOfEnergy
What if the same drilling technology that powered the shale boom could be redirected to produce clean, carbon-free electricity around the clock? In this episode of Business For Good, Paul Shapiro sits down with Tim Latimer, CEO and chairman of Fervo Energy, to explore how a former oil and gas drilling engineer built one of the most celebrated clean energy companies in the country in under a decade. Tim started Fervo in 2017 with two core beliefs: that the world would need more reliable clean electricity, and that advances in horizontal drilling had made geothermal energy dramatically more cost-effective than anyone in the geothermal industry realized. Those beliefs led to a partnership with Google, a pilot project in Nevada that produced the first horizontal geothermal well ever drilled, and a 2026 IPO that raised over $2 billion. The conversation covers why geothermal has remained a rounding error in the energy mix for over a century, how Fervo reduced drilling times from 70 days to 21 days in just four years, why their process differs fundamentally from oil and gas fracking, and what milestones investors should watch as the company scales toward 500 megawatts at its Project Cape site in Utah. Things You Will Learn: Why geothermal energy has remained less than 1% of U.S. electricity despite being over a century old. How horizontal drilling technology borrowed from oil and gas is transforming the cost structure of geothermal power. Why Fervo's process is structurally different from fossil fuel fracking, even though it borrows similar techniques. How Fervo went from startup to a multi-billion-dollar publicly traded company in under a decade. Where the next wave of geothermal entrepreneurship opportunities may emerge across the value chain. Tools & Frameworks Covered: Horizontal Drilling for Geothermal: Applying directional drilling techniques from the oil and gas industry to access deeper, hotter rock formations and dramatically increase well productivity compared to traditional vertical geothermal wells. The Earned Secret Framework: The idea that successful startups are built on insights that incumbents have missed, whether because the timing was not right, the technology had not yet transferred across industries, or conventional wisdom had not caught up with reality. Investors Invest on a Line, Not a Point: A fundraising philosophy emphasizing consistent delivery against stated milestones over multiple rounds, building credibility that compounds with each stage of execution. #BusinessForGood #SustainableBusiness #CleanEnergy #FutureOfEnergy
The following article of the AI Cloud & Data industry is: “Solving Power and Water Issues: Mexico's Geothermal Play” by Leonardo Beltrán, Non-Resident Fellow, Institute of the Americas.
Residents warned about geothermal research from August to December 2026, and the DOA animal shelter is full of rabbits after three pregnancies. A short news round-up out of Amsterdam from 11 August 2026.Podcast audio produced by Broadcast Amsterdam for BRAM RADIO, the online radio station for Amsterdam.broadcastamsterdam.nlProducer and newsreader: Cathy LeungMusic bed: We Are OKLinks to news stories and sources are shared in the News section on our website and on the Broadcast Amsterdam Pinterest feed.
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 2023
The Geothermal Plant That Could Not ForgetBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dark-mysteries-unsolved-mysteries-forgotten-secrets-unanswered-questions--5684156/support.Darkest Mysteries Online
Does next generation geothermal have the capital and regulatory certainty to scale? In part two of this two-part series, host Sebastian Duque Rios continues the conversation on geothermal energy, turning to the financing and policy side of the equation with a panel of experts: Caroline de Bossart (Grantham Foundation), Drew Nelson (Project InnerSpace), and Susannah Dibble (Environmental Law Institute). The conversation first digs into the challenges of financing geothermal energy. The panel unpacks the unique risk profile of geothermal projects (front-loaded drilling costs, resource uncertainty, and the absence of standardized data) and how emerging tools could unlock institutional lending and insurance the way similar frameworks have for oil and gas. They also explore the regulatory patchwork shaping geothermal's growth state by state, from Texas and Colorado's bipartisan legislative wins to the Mountain West Coalition's push for coordinated permitting and financing reform, and what an ideal legal and regulatory environment — one built to keep pace with fast-moving technology — could look like. Along the way, the panel covers permitting timelines, water rights and reinjection issues, and where organizations like ELI can help close the remaining research and policy gaps. It's a wide-ranging look at what stands between geothermal and the capital it needs to scale, and the policy moves that could unlock it.For more information, see part one of this two-part series and ELI's webinars on The Future of Geothermal:Power GenerationHeating and Cooling of BuildingsFinancing geothermal: why capital is lagging behind (3:48)Building a regulatory environment that unlocks investment (14:01)State-by-state: geothermal's regulatory patchwork (18:59)Water law as a case study (30:58)Concluding thoughts & what to watch for as geothermal scales (35:19) ★ Support this podcast ★
那天下午,开车穿越一片白色旷野的时候,我和Palli说起了各自最深的伤。我告诉他我的离婚。他告诉我他经历的背叛。我们都没有说得很详细,却都感觉到了对方的重量。这一集:吃了一碗贵到让人心碎的海鲜浓汤,泡了冰岛人的社区游泳池,还有——在热水池里,Palli说了一句让我沉默了很久的话。单词列表1. Vulnerability /ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪti/ / 脆弱、卸下心防的状态It takes courage to show vulnerability to someone you just met.对一个刚认识的人展露脆弱,需要很大的勇气。2. Betrayal /bɪˈtreɪəl/ / 背叛He'd experienced betrayal that went far beyond heartbreak.他所经历的背叛,远不止是失恋那么简单。3. Geothermal pool (名词片语) / 地热温泉池Iceland's geothermal pools are where locals go to unwind.冰岛的地热温泉池,是当地人放松身心的地方。4. Cultural shock (名词片语) / 文化冲击Mandatory nude showers before the pool were my first cultural shock.进泳池前必须裸体淋浴,是我第一次经历文化冲击。5. Self-imposed limit (片语) / 自我设限Sometimes the barriers we face aren't external — they're self-imposed.有时候,我们面对的障碍不是外在的,而是自我设限。My website: flywithlily.com下载“离开你的舒适圈30日挑战”中英文手册
Let's talk about something hopeful for a change!The ongoing renewable energy revolution is probably one of the most under-reported narratives in the story of climate change, and the American west is a literal hot bed for one of the most important green energy innovations - geothermal power.Geothermal power taps into the functionally limitless energy generated by earth's molten core. It uses a fraction of the space that other green technologies like wind and solar require, and delivers the holy grail of renewable power - steady, 24/7 baseload capacity.So what's the true potential of geothermal power in the Northwest, are the environmental concerns, and what are the barriers to deploying geothermal at the speed and scale we need?To answer all these questions and more, we reached out to Dr. Adam Schultz. Adam is a professor of earth sciences at Oregon State University, as well as the founder of Enthalpian Energy, a geothermal consulting and engineering company.Today's episode comes via Coast Range Radio volunteer co-host Griffin Reim, who will be leading most of the interview. Send me your questions, critiques, book recommendations, and guest ideas at coastrangeradio@gmail.comShow Notes:Enthalpian Energy: https://enthalpion.com/index.html https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/06/super-hot-rocks-geothermal-technology-renewable-energy-three-rivers-mazama/https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/12/oregon-washington-green-energy-bonneville/https://www.instagram.com/coastrangeradio/
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 2023
The Geothermal Plant's Cycle Was Never About PowerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dark-mysteries-unsolved-mysteries-forgotten-secrets-unanswered-questions--5684156/support.Darkest Mysteries Online
AI infrastructure is rewriting the energy playbook. In this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show, Sage Geosystems CEO Cindy Taff joins DCF Editor-in-Chief Matt Vincent to discuss how the explosive growth of AI has shifted data center priorities from long-term decarbonization goals toward the immediate challenge of securing enough power, quickly and in the right location. Taff explains why aggregate generation capacity means little if electricity cannot reach a data center when it is needed. With transmission constraints and grid interconnection timelines stretching for years, hyperscalers and developers are increasingly exploring behind-the-meter generation and participating directly in energy infrastructure development. The conversation examines Sage Geosystems' next-generation geothermal technology, which targets hot dry rock rather than the naturally occurring underground water resources required by conventional geothermal projects. By engineering subsurface reservoirs, Sage aims to make firm, dispatchable geothermal power available across a much wider geographic footprint. Taff also discusses how Sage combines geothermal generation with energy storage and pressure management, while addressing the water losses and high operating energy requirements associated with traditional enhanced geothermal systems. The episode explores geothermal's evolution from a primarily “green” energy resource into strategic infrastructure for AI. Unlike intermittent renewables, geothermal can provide firm, 24/7 power and potentially be developed close to major loads. Taff argues that the oil and gas industry's drilling expertise and existing infrastructure could provide a powerful scaling advantage. A hypothetical 5-gigawatt geothermal buildout over five years would require roughly 500 wells annually—a small fraction of current U.S. oil and gas drilling activity. The central takeaway: gigawatt-scale AI campuses may dominate the headlines, but they will still be built 50 to 100 megawatts at a time. For the next generation of data center development, Taff says the industry's most important metric is becoming clear: time to power now matters more than cost or total capacity.
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 2023
The Geothermal Emergency Was Never About Gas It Was About Who Was Listening BelowBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dark-mysteries-unsolved-mysteries-forgotten-secrets-unanswered-questions--5684156/support.Darkest Mysteries Online
Electricity demand in the U.S. is climbing faster than the grid can comfortably absorb, driven largely by AI data centers that need power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The U.S. power system needs all the reliable clean energy it can get, and once-forgotten geothermal energy is one such resource. In the 1960s, the United States was a world leader in building large-scale geothermal power plants, but during the fracking boom of the mid-2000s, drillers turned their attention to oil and gas. As wind, solar and batteries got cheaper, bankers and developers put their money into those resources. Geothermal development around the world had flatlined, until a new generation of geothermal developers and entrepreneurs borrowed the horizontal drilling techniques that powered the fracking boom and used them to make geothermal viable in far more geographies One of those entrepreneurs is Tim Latimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Fervo Energy. Fervo Energy is a geothermal developer using advanced drilling techniques from fracking in the oil and gas industry to make it easier to find and harness heat underground. In our conversation, recorded in December 2021, Tim told me about how he combined his expertise in oil and gas drilling with a dedication to solving the climate crisis, and used his experience to break open an overlooked renewable resource. Tim predicted the 2020s would be "the geothermal decade," noting that we can't transition to a zero-carbon grid without round-the-clock clean energy resources to supplement intermittent renewables. Geothermal offers that always-on feature needed now more than ever. We're revisiting this conversation now in celebration of what Fervo has accomplished: signing hundreds of megawatts of power purchase agreements with hyperscalers and utilities alike, and recently completing the largest IPO of any clean energy company. About Powerhouse Innovation and Powerhouse Ventures Powerhouse Ventures backs seed stage founders building the future power system across energy, infrastructure, and AI. If you are thinking about building something in this space, get in touch with our team. Powerhouse Innovation is a best in class consulting firm, powered by the strongest energy innovation network, data and team in our industry. We partner with world's leading corporations, investors, and utilities to source and evaluate disruptive startups shaping the future of energy and industry. To hear more stories of founders building our energy abundant future, hit the “subscribe” button and leave us a review.
As India races towards a cleaner energy future, the conversation often revolves around solar and wind. But are we overlooking a reliable, round-the-clock source of clean energy that lies beneath our feet?In this episode of The India Energy Hour, Karthik Ganesan, Fellow and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), joins Dr. Sandeep Pai to discuss the untapped potential of geothermal energy in India. Drawing on CEEW's recent report, The Future of Geothermal in India: Powering Economic Growth and Prosperity with Abundant Domestic Energy, he explains why geothermal deserves a place in India's clean energy mix.The conversation explores India's geothermal potential, its role in providing reliable clean energy, the challenges to scaling the sector, and the policies needed to accelerate its growth.Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101ReportersKartik Ganesan is on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin
Geothermal energy is having a moment. As demand for reliable, always-on power grows alongside data centers and electrification, new drilling technologies are unlocking geothermal's potential far beyond its traditional strongholds in California, Nevada, and Iceland. In part one of this two-part series, host Sebastian Duque Rios sits down with Tom Lutken, science fellow at the Environmental Law Institute, for a primer on how geothermal energy actually works — and what's changing.We break down the science behind geothermal electricity generation, the difference between direct-use applications and power generation, and next-generation technologies like enhanced geothermal systems, advanced geothermal systems, and super-hot rock geothermal that are expanding where geothermal can be developed. The conversation also covers drilling costs, potential risks, and innovative approaches aimed at solving geothermal's biggest cost barrier.The episode closes with a preview of the regulatory landscape shaping geothermal's growth with Susannah Dibble, staff attorney at ELI. From the decades-old Geothermal Steam Act to the state-level legislation now playing catch-up with the technology, we highlight some of the major financing, legal, and policy questions surrounding geothermal that merit further analysis. The second part of this series digs deeper into these issues with a full panel of experts.For more information, see ELI's webinars on The Future of Geothermal:Power GenerationHeating and Cooling of Buildings ★ Support this podcast ★
Hot topic conversation with impressive team Darien G. O'Brien, P.E., MBA and Luke Frash during Geothermal Rising gathering! We'll see a lot of well bores drilled for additional #energy demands thanks to forward thinking, disruptive, novel idea makers, and leaders. Hope to see a lot of heated debate on these topics but my take away was that there is a lot of funds available to make it seemingly like our own shale revolution. There was a lot of talk about needing twice the rigs we are using for #oilgas and also how most of the same people, contractors, services, and skill sets are needed right away. Fascinating #fossilfuelfriday forum. #geothermal #drilling #power #electricity #environment #upstream Stay safe and God bless. Praying you are thriving, healthy, and successful.
In this episode, Madelyn O'Farrell talks with Mike Matson, Co-Founder and CEO of Birch Geothermal, about his journey from the US Navy and academia through oil and gas, carbon capture, and consulting at BCG to founding Birch. They unpack what Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are, why Birch is “rooted in speed,” and how geothermal can scale quickly to meet soaring power demand from data centers and AI infrastructure. Mike explains geothermal's rare bipartisan appeal, the strong market signal from Fervo's recent IPO, and how 80–90% of oil and gas subsurface skills transfer directly into geothermal. They also explore what must go right for geothermal to move from a rounding error to a meaningful share of the US power mix over the next decade, and where the biggest “picks and shovels” investment opportunities lie across drilling, subsurface design, monitoring, and modular power systems. Highlights from their conversation include: Mike's Journey from Navy Service to Academia and Teaching (0:41) Midlife Rowing Expedition and Move into Drilling Operations (2:55) Shift from Oil and Gas to Carbon Capture and Clean Energy (3:42) Joining BCG and Discovering a Thesis Around Geothermal (4:31) Why Geothermal Has Unique Bipartisan Support in Politics (6:08) Market Signal from Fervo's Landmark IPO and Debt Financing (10:36) Why the Mountain West Is Ground Zero for Early EGS Projects (13:55) How Oil and Gas Skills Transfer 80–90% into Geothermal Roles (16:27) Birch's Thesis: Scaling Geothermal without a Green Premium (19:55) AI, Data Centers, and the 10-Year Outlook for Geothermal in the US Mix (23:19) Picks and Shovels Opportunities Across Drilling, Subsurface, and ORC Systems (25:51) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (29:37) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
As electricity demand continues to climb, geothermal energy is emerging as a key source of reliable, around-the-clock clean power. In this episode of GridPulse, Bryce Yonker sits down with Sarah Jewett, chief operating officer at Fervo Energy, to discuss how the company is scaling the next generation of geothermal power. Sarah explains how Fervo is applying technologies pioneered in the oil and gas sector to reduce costs and accelerate deployment. They also explore locational factors, timelines, permitting, and how enhanced geothermal is poised to play a major role in the future of the electric grid. Don't miss this excellent discussion of how next-generation geothermal can help shape a clean, reliable energy grid.
The geothermal landscape has evolved quite a lot in the last 5 years since I began recording episodes here on this show, we have seen billions in capital raised, successful pilots, full scale commercial projects constructed and lately a record breaking IPO. Zooming in, 5 years ago I sat down with then fairly new startup Sage Geosystems to talk about their unique EGS tech, plans for the future and what they hoped to accomplish. Fast forward to today, they have deployed their first grid connected commercial project, raised significant capital and put together a gigawatt pipeline they are actively working to bring to market. Sage Geosystems https://www.linkedin.com/company/sage-geosystems/posts/?feedView=all Cindy Taff https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-d-taff-53b77a57/ CORE Knowledge https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-geothermal Nick Cestari https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-cestari-48059268/
Utah Clean Energy climate scientist and energy analyst Logan Mitchell joins Molly Wood to explain how a deeply conservative state can still become a proving ground for clean energy—by focusing on affordability, reliability, and coalition-building. They dig into the rapid rise of next‑generation geothermal in Utah (including the DOE's FORGE project and private-sector follow‑on development), why geothermal could deliver clean firm power faster than new gas turbines or nuclear, and why this is one of the rare climate technologies with real bipartisan momentum.In this episode, we cover:Why Utah has become a surprising clean-energy leader (and why “business-friendly” permitting can accelerate deployment)How Utah Clean Energy works in practice: intervening in utility regulatory dockets, stress-testing long-term resource plans, and advocating for an affordable, reliable, clean power mixThe grid value proposition: geothermal as clean firm power that complements wind/solar—especially during “quiet, cold” post-storm stretches when both wind and solar can underperformA plain-English breakdown of key grid terms:Baseload: power that runs steadilyDispatchable: power you can ramp up/down when neededWhy geothermal may become more dispatchable (turn pumps off midday, produce more during high-price evening hours)Why Utah is the current hotspot:Public-private knowledge transfer from DOE's FORGE research site to nearby commercial projectsStreamlined, iterative permitting that reduces uncertainty for first-of-a-kind projectsStrong geothermal resources across Utah and the broader WestThe scale and speed: a first ~100 MW phase expected to come online quickly, with expansion potential that rivals the footprint of major fossil plants—plus transmission constraints as the near-term limiterThe politics: geothermal's appeal across the aisle—jobs, energy security, reliability, and domestic know-how—and why keeping it “above the partisan fray” mattersThe workforce bridge: geothermal as a near 1:1 skills match with oil & gas subsurface expertise—extracting heat instead of hydrocarbonsWhy this matters (big picture):Next‑gen geothermal offers a credible path to fast, scalable, cost-competitive clean firm power—potentially filling the reliability gap that makes high-renewables grids harder to manage, while staying politically durable in places where climate language alone doesn't land.Links:Utah Clean Energy: https://utahcleanenergy.org/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Critical Energy is turning rocket engines into geothermal power plants, and it wants to build 300 GW per year by 2045. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A federal court restores the 5% safe harbor for wind tax credits, Norway’s parliament pauses the 35 billion krone Utsira Nord floating wind program, and the crew digs into Australia’s battery boom and the looming blade technician shortage. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Uptime324 Matthew Stead: [00:00:00] The Uptime Wind Energy podcast, brought to you by StrikeTape. Protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit StrikeTape.com. And now, your hosts Allen Hall: Welcome to this edition of the Uptime Wind Energy podcast. I’m Allen Hall here with Matthew Stead, Rosemary Barnes, and Yolanda Padron. And our week starts off in the courtroom. And if you’ve been watching the news lately, there’s a pretty substantial IRS case involving large-scale wind and solar having to do with the, uh, production tax credit and, uh, investment tax credit at the same time on the safe harbor, 5% safe harbor rule. Uh, a federal judge handed the wind industry and solar industry a pretty substantial legal win that could reshape how the [00:01:00] projects qualify for tax credits. So a judge up in, uh, the District of Columbia vacated IRS Notice 2025-42. So if you remember that, uh, from a- about a year or so ago, uh, f- it found that the, that notice was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The notice, which was issued following a July 2025 executive order, had eliminated the 5% safe harbor for wind projects, uh, a provision developers have relied on since about 2013 to establish construction start dates without breaking ground. The court found the IRS failed to justify removing it, ignored industry comments, which I had read, and I agree with that, and gave no reason for treating wind differently f- than other clean energy technologies. So That his executive order came down and said, “Hey, we don’t like wind. [00:02:00] IRS, write a rule and make it hard for wind to get installed in the United States.” And so they dutifully did it, but a court is throwing it out. This has some pretty significant implications because if you hadn’t broken ground before this ruling, I think the– what was happening was be- if you hadn’t broken ground by July 4th, your project wouldn’t qualify for some tax credits. But now, if you have 5% safe harbor, you still are in the game, at least for now. Now, Wanda, that’s gonna make a big difference to asset managers and developers, won’t it? Yolanda Padron: Yeah, it’s really exciting. I think it opens up the, the playing field for, for some of these projects that might be a little bit behind schedule. Um, of course, a lot of teams had to change their plans and their pipeline when, um, you know, the big, beautiful bill passed and, I mean, it’s– of course, it adds a little bit of additional volatility, right, to, to wind and, and solar in the US, but it’s exciting to see at least things for, [00:03:00] for those of us that are in the wind and solar side, the, it’s a little, little bit of, of hope there. Allen Hall: And Matthew, uh, even in terms of opening up o-o-operations and, uh, getting contracts signed, this should make a big difference in sort of opening the floodgates a little bit. Although there is a short timeframe. We’re, we’re recording on, what, what is today? June 10th. So you have, in theory, less than 30 days before the July 4th deadline, but hopefully this stays. You think there’s a chance this just gets completely, uh, wiped out, the executive order and the IRS notice and- It’s back to what we remember for the, for the last, ooh, 12, 13 years? Matthew Stead: Uh, yeah. I’m, I’m, I’m hopeful, and I, I agree with Yolanda. I think you, you said it really well. Um, I think this is a, a glimmer of hope in, um, a sometimes gloomy, um, environment. So I think that’s great. In terms of going back to where it was, um, I mean, I guess my observation has been that, [00:04:00] you know, things in the US were a bit, um, distorted. You know, distorted through the, the PTC, um, and the whole repowering thing after 10 years is quite a distortion. So I think, um, you’re not necessarily going back to the good old days, um, might be the way, what will happen. Allen Hall: I think there is a lot of people actively trying to dig holes at the moment, and I, I’m sure they’re gonna continue to do that. Yolanda, do you th- you think anybody’s gonna stop and kinda say, “Oh, we have the 5% rule. We’re, we’re good”? Do you think, or you think they’re gonna still go ahead and really start construction and then just keep things continually moving on site? Yolanda Padron: I don’t think they, they can really stop, right? Because you, you don’t know if, if anything strange happens. A lot of people didn’t think the, a lot of the provisions in the big beautiful bill were gonna, were gonna see the light of day, and they did. Um, but it does, I really hope it brings at least a little bit of breathing room for some people. I know it’s, it must be… I mean, I have some friends in development, and they’re, they’re q- a little [00:05:00] bit stressed right now just with everything going on. Um, so, so I really hope for them at least they, you know, if, if they’re a little bit behind schedule, then it, it’ll be, it’ll still be fine. Allen Hall: Delamination and bondline failures in blades are difficult problems to detect early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. CIC-NDT are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become expensive burdens. Their nondestructive test technology penetrates deep into blade materials to find voids and cracks traditional inspections completely miss. CIC-NDT maps every critical defect, delivers actionable reports, and provides support to get your blades back in service. So visit cicndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you millions[00:06:00] Norway’s Storting has voted to pause the 35 billion Norwegian krone support program for floating offshore wind at Utsira Nord. The Conservative Party secured a parliamentary majority for the external quality assurance review, a socioeconomic analysis, and a technology development assessment, all before the Storting will authorize any commitments. Equinor and Vårgrønn, along with EDF and Deepwind Offshore, each hold allocated 500-megawatt areas and were preparing to compete for that subsidy. Equinor says the project will continue for now. I think everybody is saying that at the moment. But, uh, Equinor cannot rule out consequences as framework uncertainty compounds in the already challenging nature of floating offshore wind development. So Utsira Nord is a massive project. So it’s, it’s about three and a half billion US dollars [00:07:00] to go do this. We had Mads Furuseth and Anders Naslund about a year or so ago, maybe a little bit longer, talking about the project and how big it was and how important it was that Norway did this for floating offshore wind. But with this, uh, recent change in the parliament of Norway, it does seem like they’re slowly going to try to kill it by putting in a number of, uh, reviews, which is how bureaucracies tend to kill things. Is put it under six, seven, eight reviews, different committees. They all take time to get together. They have to put out a report. It could be two, three years from now. At that point, the world has completely changed, and everybody’s moved on. Does that seem like the outcome here at the moment? Matthew Stead: Yes. Allen Hall: In my mind, there’s really two big areas for floating offshore, which UK, right? That there, there’s some massive projects there, Green Volt being one of them, and then there was Sue & Nord. So between the two, I feel like the, the UK one was going to [00:08:00] happen. The question whether the world was gonna move towards floating offshore wind was gonna happen up in Norway. If Norway decided to do it and could get it developed, and it has the capability to do it because, because they have that skill set, uh, right there in Norway. If they could do it in Norway, everybody in the world would learn from it and figure out how to do it. Does this really set back floating offshore wind globally? Matthew Stead: Yeah. I mean, going back to what I said before, and I, I’ll defer to Rosie on this as well, but, um, when I was at, at Blades Europe, um, one of the, one of my long-term contacts, um, y- was in floating wind, um, and had, um, left the industry. He basically said i- in his view that the offshore wind industry was slowly, um, in decline or slowly dying. Um, so I’m just wondering if this is just evolution of viability of offshore wind. Rosemary Barnes: Is offshore wind in decline? I think if you look globally, it’s, it’s not in decline. I, I haven’t looked in, in depth at the figures just based on what, you know, [00:09:00] headlines I’ve seen and podcasts I’ve heard, but I think that globally it’s still on the rise. It’s just that- It’s only in Europe that things are really moving with speed, right? Like, people were expecting heaps of growth in the US and now no- nobody expects that. Floating offshore wind, it’s… I th- I still think it’s too early to say. There are plenty of countries that don’t have any good energy options besides, um, floating offshore wind, like Japan. What their energy transition looks like is gonna depend a lot on their culture and what people think, ’cause, like, if you go through, like, the engineering solutions that Japan could have, the ones that make the most sense from an engineering point of view are not popular at all, are not politically viable. Like, Japan could easily have a subsea cable connecting it with, um, with China, for example, or Korea, but I don’t think anybody, anybody thinks that that will ever happen because, you know, politically it’s, it’s very far from being possible. What else could they have? Geothermal. They’ve got heaps of [00:10:00]geothermal resources, like really good traditional geothermal resources, but my understanding is that it’s super unpopular because their onsen, um, community doesn’t want it. Uh, my understanding is that they’re worried that if you put geothermal, um, if you exploit geothermal resources, then the onsens will not be hot anymore, and again, my limited research understanding is that it’s not true. It’s different resources. The two aren’t connected in any way. Um, and yeah, there’s actually a community geothermal, um, facility near Fukushima. I’m trying really hard to get over there, but I’m, I’ve got a roadblock at the moment because, uh, n- no one there speaks English, so I need to find somebody to, to come with me and, you know, I’ll have one, one day to try and get there on the fast train and back to Tokyo in, in a single day. So it’s, it’s a bit of a stretch, but I’m gonna try. But anyway, so yeah, what have we… We’ve ruled out, like, subsea cables, ruled out geothermal. Floating wind is good. Allen Hall: Well, speaking of Fukushima, [00:11:00] there’s been a more recent push in Japan to start up some of the nuclear facilities. So after the tsunami, was that 2012, 2014 when that happened? It was a while ago. Uh, when the tsunami happened and h- had that, uh, nuclear accident, they, they s- shut down all the nuclear facilities in Japan, but it does seem like they’re trying to restart some of them And, and maybe it’s just the demand for energy and, and they’re trying to weigh that off with offshore wind or floating offshore wind. At what point, you know, which one do you choose? It has to be driven by cost and availability. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. And so Fukushima, I just looked it up, it was 2011. Um, and yeah, so I mean, I think it is very fair that they had a reaction to that and they wanted to put the handbrake on nuclear at that time, or they did more than put the handbrake on, they did like a handbrake turn. Allen Hall: They shut it down. Rosemary Barnes: So, and it, you know, it’s gradually ramping up. I think that their target for nuclear now is to, to regain, um, 20% of their electricity from [00:12:00] nuclear by 2040, something like that. It was 30% prior to that incident. Um, so that will be part of it, but it’s not, um, it’s not all of it. And then even if you think of, uh, okay, so forget climate change, just, you know, we want, Japan just wants energy and they don’t care about climate change, you know, ’cause that, that, that could be true. What are their ch- choices for that? They import a whole bunch of… They, they import nearly all their energy. Everything that’s not nuclear basically is, is imported. Um, coal, but a lot of LNG, and, you know, that is not exactly an appealing prospect at the moment either. It’s not secure. Prices are very volatile. We’ve had, like, two fossil fuel shocks in the last, what, like four years or something like that, and how many more, how many more are we g- are we going to have? You know, like energy security is important, totally separate from climate change issues. So I don’t think we need to rely on Japan, like, you know, [00:13:00] steadfastly staying the course because their, their existing o- opportunities are not, are not great for fossil fuels either. Allen Hall: I don’t know what country’s gonna stay the course right now, really. Maybe the UK? Rosemary Barnes: Oh, I think it’s- Countries that have other reasons for going to renewables are the ones that are gonna stay the, stay the course. Um, and there are plenty of examples of countries where it just, it is by far the easiest, cheapest, fastest option to get more electricity. Um, you know, like all of Africa, for example, is, is facing that as a, uh, a better development path than trying to build big, um, fossil fuel power plants. But even that, you know, like in India, they’re making a huge transition, Pakistan, not to mention Australia, where now batteries are having more of an impact on electricity prices than gas is. So our electricity prices now finally are dropping, um, this year for the first time because of how many batteries have come on and are now, you [00:14:00]know… Like they’ve just flattened. The evening price peak used to be on average about, like, I think $400 or something dollars a megawatt hour, and now it’s like 100. In one year we had that, we had that change, yeah, just from the amount of batteries that have come on in the last year or two. Allen Hall: Why does that make such a big difference in the price of electricity, the battery aspect? Rosemary Barnes: Because, so the way that Australia… Australia’s electricity market is pretty similar to Texas, so if you understand that, then you can probably understand Australia’s. But, you know, at any five-minute interval, people, like, they know how much demand there’s going to be, and then people are bidding in how much they would supply electricity for in that five minutes, in real time as well. It’s not like day ahead or anything like that in Australia. The, like, last one they need is what everybody gets paid. So, like, solar power is gonna bid in at, like, you know, practically zero, um, or maybe negative prices actually if they’ve got power purchase agreements in place. And then, you know, wind a little bit more, and then coal, uh, you know, a, a bit [00:15:00] more than that, and then gas, the open cycle gas turbines, the peakers, they’re very expensive. They’re bidding in at 400, $400 a megawatt hour. If there’s enough batteries that that gas doesn’t need to bid in, then all of a sudden we don’t have the gas price that everybody has to pay. We have the battery price that everyone has to pay, and that is very, very cheap and will become cheaper as there’s more of them in the, in the system. So it’s like a threshold event. You, you know, um, even if you’re using only a tiny bit of gas, if you need any gas at all, even like, you know, one megawatt of gas, everybody gets paid the gas price. If you just get a little bit more battery in and you don’t need it anymore, bam, the price just falls. So that’s what we… We’ve passed that threshold now. Allen Hall: Isn’t that where the UK is trying to get, is to get past that threshold where renewables are that last addition to the grid and kick off peaker plants and some expensive other- fuel sources. That’s I, I [00:16:00] think where everybody’s gone because they have the same system where the, the last one in is what sets the price for everybody. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. The UK’s a little bit different because one, they’re connected to Europe, and two, they’ve got nuclear, so they do have that kind of base load. Allen Hall: Let’s go down the rabbit hole just for a second. So if the peaker plants don’t come on, that means that the battery electricity supplying the grid is pretty low in price. It seems like they are losing money on their investment in the battery That they were hoping the price would be higher. Because if the peaker plants are still going on, that would be a $400 price and they’re gonna come in at, like, 350, so that would make sense. It, it helps pay off the battery investment. But if they’re dropping the price down from 400 to 100, it would seem like the battery investment may not be a, a wise decision. Rosemary Barnes: For sure they’re making less money, but it was– they were making crazy profits for the first little, the first few, few years of, you know, grid-scale batteries. And even [00:17:00] home batteries, people were making a l- a lot of money off that, and it was crazy. Like, I’m on some, um, some Reddit subreddits about, uh, you know, people with home batteries and- Allen Hall: Slash battery? Rosemary Barnes: Matt probably is too. Matt’s a Beta G enthusiast, so I’m sure that he is just as excited as me. But anyway, so on one of these subreddits, you know, people used to talk about, “Oh, I made 100 bucks last night,” um, or, or whatever, you know, just a household. And now all the posts are complaining about there’s been no price spikes all year. You know, I thought that I was gonna make heaps of money off my battery, but people are really change- changing how they think of it. And now it’s like… And l- like I want– used to want to do this. I don’t have solar panels yet ’cause we need a new roof, and I’ve been waiting a few years to, one, live in a house that I own, and then two, get a freaking new roof. Um, and I thought I’m gonna just, like, cover it in solar panels, get a huge battery, and I’m gonna be an energy trader in my free time and make heaps of money, and now that is [00:18:00] not the strategy anymore. The strategy is to just reduce your bills to the m- the minimum that you can. Um, that’s basically, that’s basically it. So you are right that some of this arbitrage is, um, the opportunity’s over, and that it will be less, um, exciting for, uh, opportunity for people to put more, more batteries in. Matthew Stead: Just to add to that, through the middle of the day quite often there’s, uh, negative pricing. So if you’ve got a battery, you’re being paid to charge through the middle of the day. So that actually takes away some of the pain from having a lower, a lower price, um, during the peak. Rosemary Barnes: But the thing about negative prices is that you need coal power plants for them to be… Like, the only reason we have such pervasive negative prices is not because solar plants have PPAs that are, you know, make it worthwhile for them to generate even when the price is slightly negative. The real thing is that coal power plants don’t want to turn down below, I don’t know, yeah, like 20, 30% during the middle of the day. They have to be on if they want to make money in the evening, and that means that they bid in at, like, [00:19:00] negative 50, um, so that people– so that they can stay running. And that’s where the bulk of our negative prices come from. So As coal power plants close, those negative prices will go away. Um, and when they close, we should get some better evening price spikes again. So, you know, like nothing ever stays the same for long, which is why it is such a fascinating hobby to have, being interested in the electricity market, because it’s never the same from one year to another. You’ll never understand it, ’cause it’s never, it never stays the same long enough to really get your head around it. Allen Hall: You need other hobbies. You really do. Matthew Stead: A friend of mine works in trading, and, uh, he said, “As long as there’s volatility, there will be progress.” So much like what Rosie was saying is the more volatile it is, the more opportunity there is for people to come in, um, and change it. Allen Hall: I just don’t know how the battery thing plays out once that threshold is reached. When you have more batteries on the system and you knock down the price that [00:20:00] much, I think battery sales, industrial batteries really slow down because they’re all looking for that quick ROI And they’re not gonna get it. Rosemary Barnes: You have to wait for all of the coal to close before you would find out what’s the right amount of batteries to have in the, in the grid. Allen Hall: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That, I totally agree there, yeah. Yolanda Padron: You’d still get, like in extreme weather events and stuff, you’d still get a big price spike, right, for all these batteries. Allen Hall: Back to Matt’s point, more volatility. Rosemary Barnes: If you want the market to respond, you need to give enough incentive to invest in assets so you’ll have enough when it’s needed. And because it’s really infrequent, then it has to be a super high price to, um, bring on enough investment. And will this system… The system has worked absolutely, you know, pretty well in Aus- Australia at least. Will it continue into the future with more variable prices and renewables? I, I don’t know, and the government is starting to do some things like, uh, you know, like a lot of [00:21:00] electricity markets have, um, not just energy markets but also capacity markets where you will pay a battery or a gas plant something to be on standby basically, um, so that if there is, um, if there’s a shortfall then they, then they have to respond. So in Western Australia they have that, but across the east of Australia th- they currently do not, do not have that. It’s energy only. Allen Hall: Really? How do you not have capacity payments? Rosemary Barnes: The majority of their profits are made in just a few hours a year when there are those price spikes, so that’s, that’s h- part of their business case. Allen Hall: I mean, there, there is arbitrage happening on the electricity grid. That’s not the best place to be arbitraging things because you will have players that won’t provide electricity just to drive up the price. Rosemary Barnes: Uh, and it happens in Australia too, but, um, you know, because batteries are such a distributed resource, it, it will become harder and harder to do that when, you know, the, um, the ownership of these batteries is, you know, households as well as, um, yeah, as well as [00:22:00] big companies. Matthew Stead: So offshore wind, I was talking to an OEM a, a little while ago and, uh, talking about blade repairs for offshore wind, you know, floating, floating wind. Um, so specifically floating wind. The OEM was extremely concerned about floating wind, um, because it makes it very, very, very hard to change blades. So the story was that if you’ve got an offshore floating platform, you’re basically gonna have to tow the wind turbine back to port to change a, a blade. Rosemary Barnes: They see that as a, as a pro, not a con though. Yeah. That, that’s because it’s very hard to… Like, it’s not only floating offshore wind where it’s very hard to remove a, a blade out at sea, like fixed bottom offshore wind, that’s incredibly expensive to remove a blade. So floating is like, well, you can just tow it back to shore and then you can do it all in the port. I, I, you’re looking skeptical, Matt, and I’m also skeptical about how it actually plays out. I know that, um, what was it? The, [00:23:00] the one- An EOL project off the coast of Scotland. I can’t remember what it’s called now. Like what, the first big one, the big wind farm, a floating offshore wind farm Allen Hall: HiWind Scotland Rosemary Barnes: They had a, a problem. I don’t know if it was a serial issue or also, like it’s the first big wind farm, and there might have been like some operating condition they weren’t aware of that caused some problems. They had to tow back everything to port, and they stayed there for months and months. So like maybe, maybe close to a year or over a year, I’m not sure. It was a really long time. And so, um, yeah. But then, you know, like what’s the alternative? If that had happened out at sea, it would’ve been more expensive. If, it still would’ve been shut down, not doing anything, and you would’ve had like helicopters out there every single day bringing teams and, um, you know, huge vessels with cranes and yeah. So like it’s, maintenance at sea is never good. Allen Hall: But the whole point of the HiWind project was to get some of these problems figured out, and one of them was just towing it back to port and [00:24:00] doing major repairs or component exchanges make sense. I think it’s a, it’s a lesson well learned, and we’ve moved on. I guess the question is, does offshore, floating offshore in particular, have much of a future if Norway’s not willing to do it? Matthew Stead: I think it’s a good comparison with, um, data centers in space. Rosemary Barnes: You know where else they’re planning to put data centers? Not just space and offshore, also like, um, underwater ones, like on the deep ocean floor, um, on the moon somewhat. Like there’s an actual company that is apparently developing a, a data center on the moon Allen Hall: As wind energy professionals, staying informed is crucial, and let’s face it, difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast recommends PES Wind magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or new to wind, PES Wind has the high-quality content you need. Don’t [00:25:00] miss out. Visit peswind.com today. Well, in this quarter’s PES Wind magazine, there are a number of great articles, and if you haven’t downloaded your copy, you should do that at peswind.com. There’s a good article from Global Blade Services USA, and it’s talking about the technician problem and how it’s not gonna, it solve itself, obviously. But Global Blade Service is putting some numbers to it. And Rosemary, this is really directed at you. Blades represent roughly 20% of the total, total turbine capital cost and are the leading driver of unplanned downtime. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah, 40% of O&M. Allen Hall: Right, and 75% of all blade repairs are already handled outside OEM warranty. That number seems really high, but maybe after the warranty expires? Rosemary Barnes: Do you say 30% of, of repairs are repaired under warranty? That’s, uh, unexpectedly high from my point of view. [00:26:00] But, you know, how would I know? No one’s getting in touch with me if, you know, they’ve got a problem with their blades and it just got fixed under warranty. Then they’re not paying a consultant to come sort it out. I only, I’m, I’m only there when the warranty is nearly up or it’s already over. Allen Hall: So they, they’re saying that the, the ratio’s even gonna grow more towards out of warranty repairs. But the problem is having technicians. And the deeper problem is developing all those technicians in time as that need grows. Uh, reaching full structural repair competency takes a rope access technician eight to 10 years. A basket technician is five to seven, and a factory technician is four to five years, meaning the workforce, uh, the industry needs for the next decade has to start training now. I, I think we’re seeing this in full force. I- the issue is keeping good people in the industry as it fluctuates up and [00:27:00] down all the time and is very seasonal. Because there are really good rope technicians out there who know what they are doing, and it does take a, a minimum of three years to be competent. And then to be that lead person, it takes four or five solid. And to be, uh, the, the relied-upon person, especially for some of the more complicated repairs, it’s gonna be six, seven, eight years before you’re there. It’s just an exposure thing. Are we in a technician crisis? Rosemary Barnes: Crisis is maybe a little bit inflammatory, but, uh, we’re in a technician challenge Matthew Stead: But it’s a pretty, it’s a pretty basic topic, Allen, isn’t it? Like, um, you know, there’s more and more wind turbines, there have to be more and more technicians. It takes time to train. So, you know, it’s, it’s just, it’s pretty much basic maths and, um, you know, it’s like te- you know, tradies to build houses. Um, you know, unless you’ve got the tradies, you can’t build houses in a cheap way. Yolanda Padron: Part of the issue is that, you know, say there’s [00:28:00] 10 technicians that are available in the area, right? Then you … maybe they work under two different companies, and then one company goes bankrupt, so then they all work with the same company. Another company pops up, or someone gets kicked off site from the OEM side, and then a month later they’re back with the third party. And then it’s just really difficult to keep track of kind of who’s still there and who’s not, because some people have the certifications and maybe they’re not really, really great at what they do, or other people have a lot of training and a lot of experience, and it’s just difficult to track exactly, you know, where they are now. I know that the, the strategy here oftentimes is you’ll find one person that you like and you kind of follow him around, or follow them around whatever company they’re, they’re with at the moment, and then just use that company. Matthew Stead: The other point I was going to make is that there’s also the seasonality, isn’t there? So you know, if you’ve got a great, a great technician, when it’s cold, they can’t earn cash from [00:29:00] repairing blades. Rosemary Barnes: Aren’t they hired as, like, seasonal workers in America and they just don’t get paid for part of the year? That’s not how it’s done here. I mean, I guess we don’t have the climate where you have to, like, totally shut down, so they’re not, like, sitting around getting paid for nothing. But, like, that’s a really unim- unappealing feature of the of the, um, field, isn’t it? If you’re deciding what you wanna, what kinda job you wanna do, you want one where you can get paid for 12 months out of the year, not just, I don’t know, like eight or whatever it is. Matthew Stead: I know there’s been a lot of discussion between, like, Australian US repair companies of, like, shipping technicians down here during the Northern Hemisphere winter and vice versa, and it gives, you know, chance of exploring the world. But, you know, if you’ve got kids and family, you’re not gonna necessarily wanna do that either. Rosemary Barnes: It’s such a tiring job, though. I don’t… Like, there’s, um, I think it’s fine if people do it for, like, a hard 10 years and then, um, yeah, move on to… Because you obviously learn a lot as a technician, so y- you know, like, there’s a lot of office jobs that you would be really good at [00:30:00] because you had that physical experience. But yeah, like, I, I do think that there’s heaps of young people that are traveling the world being wind turbine technicians. Yolanda Padron: At least in Texas, I know a lot of rural areas where they don’t necessarily have a lot of opportunities to get higher education, and so going to be a technician is a good route for them to then go into a larger part of the industry, um, to, to kinda get a head start there. Um, and they get a lot of really valuable skills, and oftentimes, like you said, Rosie, they’ll, they’ll get picked up by, um, by the owners or the OEMs or someone, um, because of their experience there. But it, but it is quite a bit of, of hard work and, and physical, physical labor. I climbed one tower and I was sore for two weeks, so really, really not my cup of tea. Rosemary Barnes: I’m always, like, so excited to, to be climbing towers ’cause I only do it, like, you know, sometimes no times in a year, sometimes twice a year. Um, yeah, so, like, I’m really excited to go climb, and it’s really cool the first day, and then the second day it’s like, “Oh, this harness is [00:31:00] so heavy. Am I really putting this on again? Oh my God.” Yeah, so it’s, uh, it’s ob- obviously you get used to it if you, um, if you do climb a lot. The last, uh, last site that I was at, a lot of the technicians were just climbing the ladders so that they wouldn’t have to, you know, go to the gym afterwards. So there’s a lift there, but they use the ladder because then they get their cardio for the day. So, you know, they’ve obviously got some surplus energy. Allen Hall: I think it is kind of a myth outside the US, uh, uh, seasonal workers, uh, at least in Europe, I haven’t seen a lot of seasonal workers. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist, of course. But in the United States, there’s a lot of seasonal workers from construction and all kinds of other industries. People figure it out And it, it’s a lot more common than I think y- being an engineer you think it is, but there are a lot of seasonal workers. So being a, a wind technician is not a bad job. Rosemary Barnes: I guess they’re just getting [00:32:00] paid extra for the time that they’re working and they just know they’re used to budgeting to cover the few months off. Allen Hall: They have a winter job. They’ll, they have employment. They already have it lined up where when it gets cold outside, they have someplace else to go. Back into construction for a few months. They’re maybe driving a truck or doing other things that, that bring in income. They have it pretty well figured out. When– At least the technicians I’ve talked to seem to have a, a plan about it, and they’re not sitting by the television for six months. That’s not what’s happening. It, that there’s a lot of employment opportunities here in the States, and so they, they’re pretty nimble. So if you haven’t read this article or a number of our other great articles in PES Wind, you should go to peswind.com right now and download a copy today. That wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy podcast. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. [00:33:00] For Yolanda, Rosemary, and Matthew, I’m Allen Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy podcast.
Hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with Elena Melchert to examine how energy demand, fossil fuels, mineral rights, royalties, and infrastructure shape real passive income opportunities. Elena brings a grounded, technical perspective to a sector many investors hear about but rarely understand deeply. For pilots and high-income professionals looking at alternative investments, tax strategy, and long-term cash flow, this conversation offers a clearer way to think about energy as both a global necessity and a potential portfolio play.Elena Subia Melchert is the founder and president of Energia Consulting LLC and host of Oil and Gas Upstream. With a career spanning engineering, energy technology, federal policy, and industry advisory work, Elena helps connect technical expertise with practical energy solutions. Her background includes leadership in upstream research at the U.S. Department of Energy, along with ongoing work in emerging energy areas such as geothermal, carbon storage, produced water, and geologic hydrogen. She brings rare depth, clarity, and real-world perspective to today's energy conversation.Show notes:(0:00) Intro(2:17) Elena's oil and gas background(7:31) Upstream research and technology(10:06) The reality of energy transition(16:28) Energy poverty around the world(18:42) Pilots, fuel costs, and investing(20:42) Fossil fuels over the next 50 years(22:19) Infrastructure versus production(25:41) How oil and gas royalties work(30:32) Royalties during market downturns(40:13) Geothermal and critical minerals(43:28) OutroConnect with Elena Melchert:Website: https://energiaconsultingllc.com/our-company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenamelchert/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oil-and-gas-upstream/id1450833136 If you're interested in participating, the latest institutional-quality self-storage portfolio is available for investment now at: https://turbinecap.investnext.com/portal/offerings/8449/houston-storage/ — You've found the number one resource for financial education for aviators! Please consider leaving a rating and sharing this podcast with your colleagues in the aviation community, as it can serve as a valuable resource for all those involved in the industry.Remember to subscribe for more insights at PassiveIncomePilots.com! https://passiveincomepilots.com/ Join our growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passivepilotsCheck us out on Instagram @PassiveIncomePilots: https://www.instagram.com/passiveincomepilots/Follow us on X @IncomePilots: https://twitter.com/IncomePilotsGet our updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/passive-income-pilots/Do you have questions or want to discuss this episode? Contact us at ask@passiveincomepilots.com See you at the next one!*Legal Disclaimer*The content of this podcast is provided solely for educational and informational purposes. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson, and do not reflect those of any organization they are associated with, including Turbine Capital or Spartan Investment Group. The opinions of our guests are their own and should not be construed as financial advice. This podcast does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice. Listeners are advised to consult with their own legal or financial counsel and to conduct their own due diligence before making any financial decisions.
Data centers are multiplying fast, and the energy demands are staggering. Matt Watson sits down with Tim Tarver, founder and CEO of Exceed Geo Energy, to talk about one of the most underrated power sources in the conversation: geothermal. Tim breaks down how his company is adapting drilling technology from the oil and gas industry to generate clean, baseload energy almost anywhere in the country, why geothermal outlasts solar and wind by decades, and how it could be the right fit for the next wave of AI infrastructure.If you're watching energy costs climb and wondering where the power for all these data centers is actually going to come from, this one's worth your time.Listen now and learn why geothermal might be the energy answer nobody's talking about enough. And if you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe so you never miss a conversation with the founders and operators building what's next.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:44 Introduction to Data Centers and Energy Challenges03:40 Geothermal Energy: A Sustainable Solution06:33 The Role of Geothermal in Data Center Energy Needs09:41 Entrepreneurship in Geothermal Energy12:41 Water Usage and Cooling in Data Centers15:40 Cost Comparison: Geothermal vs. Other Energy Sources18:50 Technological Advances in Drilling and Geothermal Energy21:48 Future of Geothermal Energy and Closing ThoughtsLinks & ResourcesConnect with Tim Tarver on LinkedInExceed Geo Energy - http://www.exegeoenergy.comWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf you're trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who's still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
Geothermal energy has long been seen as a promising, but challenging, clean energy resource. Unlike wind or solar, geothermal requires finding heat hidden deep underground, often with little surface indication of where to look. Joel Edwards, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Zanskar, joins Climate Rising to explain how advances in geoscience, data science, and machine learning are transforming geothermal exploration. By combining publicly available geologic data with modern modeling techniques, Zanskar is working to reduce the risk and cost of finding new geothermal resources. The conversation explores how geothermal systems work, why exploration has historically been challenging, and how Zanskar's approach is enabling “blind discoveries”—finding viable geothermal resources that lack surface expressions such as hot springs or geysers. Joel also discusses the economics of geothermal, the role of data centers as a potential catalyst for growth, and what it will take to scale the industry.
Iceland's volcanic geology shapes its striking landscape, its efficient power supply, and its steamy spa culture enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. For European travel information, visit https://www.ricksteves.com.
Share your Field Stories!Laura interviews Dr. Angela Seligman, senior geoscientist from Clean Air Task Force, to explore the cutting edge of geothermal energy, the science behind volcanoes, and what it takes to turn curiosity into a meaningful career. From next-generation clean energy to the importance of science communication, this episode dives into how understanding what's beneath our feet can shape a more sustainable future.Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Angela Seligman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-seligman-4717b476/ Guest Bio:Angela Seligman is CATF's Senior Geoscientist on the Geothermal team, where she acts as the team's subsurface technical expert. In this role, she works to further the technology innovation needed to deploy geothermal at a scale necessary to provide low-carbon energy globally at a competitive cost. Angela held a postdoctoral research position with the EPA where she researched remediation methods for water contaminated by uranium mining. She received her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Oregon and her master's degree in Geology from the University of Utah, where she studied geochemistry and volcanology.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.
Where is Climate Tech heading? Certainly not dead — but constantly reinventing itself. So much so that you begin to wonder whether the label itself has outlived its original meaning. Laurent and Gerard welcome Kim Zou, co-founder and CEO of Sightline Climate, the data and research platform mapping the climate-tech economy, and author of some of the sector's most influential newsletters, including CTVC and the newer Powerstack. Sightline has become essential reading for investors, utilities, corporates, and policymakers trying to understand where capital is flowing and how the energy system is evolving. Together, they explore how Climate Tech has transformed over the past decade. Decarbonisation alone is no longer the central narrative. Today, AI, energy security, and industrial resilience dominate the conversation — often pushing sustainability itself into the background. The discussion traces how funding has shifted from venture capital toward infrastructure and large-scale project finance. The spotlight has also moved away from “green molecules” — hydrogen, SAF, and carbon management — toward “green electrons”: virtual power plants, grid-enhancing technologies, and the race to accelerate datacentre construction. They also examine the contrasting innovation models shaping global competition. In China, much of the breakthrough innovation happens inside corporations themselves, with companies like BYD employing more than 110,000 R&D staff, and CATL relying on a 20,000-engineer workforce. The United States, meanwhile, benefits from unparalleled access to capital and world-class universities and research centres. Europe sits somewhere in between, attempting to combine industrial policy with scientific excellence. Finally, the conversation turns to one of Sightline's newest areas of focus: tracking data-center construction. The company currently follows 140 sites representing roughly 16 GW of announced capacity. Yet only about 6 GW are actually under construction — a reality check that has sent a chill through Wall Street.And Laurent goes on a rant of epic proportion against certain Hyperscalers!!!Useful links:Sightline website: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/Capital Stack and New Funds report: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/request-report?report-id=Dry-Powder-and-New-Funds-2026 · Data Center Q1 outlook report: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/request-report?report-id=data-center-outlook-q126 · 2025 climate tech investment trends report: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/request-report?report-id=2025_investment_report · Article on our tour of China's electrostate: https://www.sightlineclimate.com/research/a-tour-of-chinas-electrostate · If people want to stay updated on our latest, they can subscribe to our CTVC climate tech newsletter here or our Powerstack power and data center markets newsletter here
In this episode, Brad Cooper — second-generation HVAC technician, educator at Arkansas State University-Beebe (ASUBB), and CMHE-certified professional with HVAC Excellence — breaks down geothermal systems for everyday HVAC technicians. Brad brings a grounded, no-hype perspective to a technology that has long intimidated many in the trade. His central message is simple: if you already understand heat pumps and air conditioning, you already have most of the knowledge you need to service geothermal units. The only real difference, as Brad explains, is swapping air for water, a fan for a pump, and a condenser for two heat exchangers. Brad opens with a compelling real-world story: a customer with two malfunctioning geothermal units called a company for help, but because the technicians were unfamiliar with geothermal systems, they replaced both units with air-to-air equipment — costing the customer $25,000 and stripping them of the significant efficiency benefits geothermal provides. This kind of outcome is exactly what Brad wants to prevent. He urges technicians not to shy away from geothermal work the way past generations were told to avoid flex duct or mobile homes, but instead to approach these systems with the same confidence and diagnostic mindset they bring to any HVAC call. A major portion of the episode is devoted to practical diagnostics — specifically, how to use a pressure probe and a temperature probe on the water side to calculate GPM flow, BTU output, and system efficiency using a straightforward chart. Brad walks listeners through the math: a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, multiplied by flow rate and delta T, gives you a reliable BTU reading — all without expensive equipment. He also covers the flush cart, the one specialized tool you'll eventually need for water-side work, and explains that most geothermal calls don't require it at all — the majority of failures are standard heat pump issues like bad capacitors, clogged drain lines, or faulty thermostats. Brad closes with an encouraging, community-minded message: you don't need to go it alone. He encourages technicians to build a network of mentors — someone like a "Paul and a Barnabas" — who can guide them through unfamiliar territory in the field. He also highlights key industry resources, including IGSHPA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) for training and certification, GeoFlow for parts and materials, and his brother's company, EDGE Geo Supply, for tools and field training. Brad himself offers his personal phone number and email for anyone with questions, reinforcing that the geothermal community is accessible and willing to help. Topics Covered • Brad's background as a second-generation HVAC tech and his role at ASUBB and HVAC School • Why geothermal systems intimidate technicians — and why they shouldn't • The core analogy: air-to-air vs. geothermal (air → water, fan → pump, condenser → two heat exchangers) • A $25,000 cautionary tale: replacing working geo units out of fear and unfamiliarity • Geothermal efficiency: constant EER ratings vs. seasonal SEER ratings and why seasons don't affect geo performance • BTU fundamentals: what a BTU is and how to calculate BTU output on the water side • Tonnage review: 1 ton = 12,000 BTUs per hour, melting a ton of ice in 24 hours • Water weight and flow math: 8.34 lbs/gallon, calculating GPM and BTUs with delta T • Using a two-probe setup (pressure + temperature) and a field chart to diagnose water-side performance • The flush cart: what it is, when you need it, and why most jobs won't require it • Common heat pump-side failures in geo units: capacitors, low-pressure switches, evaporator coils, bad thermostats • Common water-side failures: bad pump, low water, dirty water, frozen loop field • How antifreeze/glycol affects heating load and BTU output — and when to add it • Responding to frozen loop fields during extreme cold events (ice storms in Arkansas and Texas) • Humidity control advantages of geothermal in high-humidity climates vs. high-efficiency air-to-air units • Selecting the right system: geo isn't for every home or every situation • Open-loop options: pulling water from lakes or rivers and utility company incentives • Closed-loop installation considerations: drilling costs, lot size, and buried line depths • Building a mentor network for field support (the "Paul and Barnabas" principle) • Industry resources: IGSHPA for training and certification, GeoFlow, and Edge Geo Supply Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool. Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium. Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.
Fervo Energy, a little-known geothermal company, is targeting up to a $6.5 billion valuation in a U.S. IPO — a sign that the industry that produces electricity from the Earth's heat may be turning a corner, at least in terms of investor confidence. POLITICO's Christa Marshall breaks down what's behind the company's ambitious valuation, where Congress and the Trump administration stand, and whether geothermal is ready to help meet America's growing energy demand. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. KJ Cline is the video producer for POLITICO Energy. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO's E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more reporting on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Factory built, deployed in modules, cost effective, flexible power generation systems for geothermal? That's right, Critical Energy is aiming to change the landscape for geothermal development timelines with their cutting edge, factory built, modular ORC turbines. Spencer Jackson, Founder and CEO, spent many years at SpaceX working with systems while much hotter, not that different and he thought to himself why not tackle heat recovery in a meaningful way. With their approach, the landscape for geothermal could be radically revitalized, lowering barriers to entry, lengthy time to markets, decreasing costs, supply chain bottlenecks, etc. ultimately unlocking more resource and capital faster. Spencer Jackson https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-j-jackson/ Critical Energy https://www.linkedin.com/company/critical-energy-systems/posts/?feedView=all Spencer's Book Recommendation Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy CORE Knowledge https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-geothermal Nick Cestari https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-cestari-48059268/
Fervo Energy has become a darling of the clean energy industry by using workers and technology from the oil and gas sector to unlock zero-carbon, all-day geothermal electricity. Last week, Fervo filed to go public, giving us the first deep look at its finances and long-term expansion plans. What's the bull case, the bear case, and the fine print?On this week's episode of Shift Key, Rob is joined by Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University, as well as Heatmap's Matthew Zeitlin to discuss the big news from Fervo's new filing. Why are people so excited about Fervo? What are the biggest financial questions in its growth plans? And why does it need to go public now?Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap News.You can find a full transcript of the episode here.Mentioned:From Heatmap: 8 Things We Learned From Fervo's IPO FilingJesse's report on how to scale geothermal nationwide through experience-induced cost reductionsJesse's report on how geothermal can be a flexible resource, like natural gas--This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by ...Salesforce is the No. 1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive success together. We invest in bold climate technologies and leverage agentic AI to accelerate nature-based solutions that benefit people and the planet. Learn more.Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kenya is emerging as one of Africa's leading producers of geothermal power. While it remains a niche but growing industry globally, in Kenya it has become a vital and reliable source of electricity. We explore how this energy is harnessed, why it has become so central to the country's power supply, and the plans to build what some are calling Africa's first geothermal‑powered city.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Michael KalokiBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: Olkaria II geothermal power plant in Kenya. Credit: Getty Images)
In episode 219, we analysed the relationship between hyperscalers and US utilities from the hyperscaler perspective. To complete the picture, we revisit the debate from the utility's point of view.Gerard and Laurent welcome Rajiv Bajaj, VP of Solutions Sales at Constellation, to understand how utilities approach this rapidly evolving landscape. Spun out of Exelon a few years ago, Constellation was initially seen as the “ugly duckling,” but it was sitting on a major advantage: a large nuclear fleet. What was considered a liability in the 2010s has become a strategic asset as hyperscalers search for clean, reliable 24/7 power.The acquisition of Calpine and its large CCGT fleet turned Constellation into the largest US utility in terms of capacity, with around 60 GW (half nuclear, half gas) and roughly 200 TWh of annual generation—placing the company at the centre of discussions with hyperscalers and data centre developers.Constellation's approach remains cautious. The company is only gradually moving into batteries, is bullish on demand response following the surge in PJM capacity prices and is exploring upgrades to its nuclear fleet while remaining sceptical about. Geothermal. where the Company is active, is attractive but seen as difficult to scale.The overall picture is one of disciplined conservatism. Constellation cannot easily be pushed by aggressive data centre developers because it already has the right generation mix at the right time. Its core objective is simple: maximise fleet load factors and sell MWh at the highest possible price. Gas assets operate in the mid-merit order with strong spark spreads, while nuclear requires higher long-term prices to justify further investment, as illustrated by the Microsoft-supported Three Mile Island restart.With around 90% of its capacity built in the 20th century, Constellation is focused on upgrading and optimising its existing fleet rather than pursuing large-scale expansion. For hyperscalers, understanding this mindset is key when engaging with utilities.
More government funding for security and extra spot checks is the only way to stem the tide of illegal meat being smuggled into the UK. That's according to Dover Port Health Authority who say they intercepted more than 14.2 tonnes of illegal meat in the last week of March. It's not just a health risk to those who might eat it, there's also the danger of highly contagious animal diseases like swine fever and foot and mouth disease entering the country in contaminated meat. With foot and mouth outbreaks in both Greece and Cyprus last month, the threat to livestock here, is making farmers increasingly concerned. Scientists at the Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology are using geothermal energy to grow crops under glass. Unlike ground source heat pumps, which make use of solar energy stored in the ground, geothermal energy takes heat from the earth's core. We speak to the scientists and growers who are testing out new ways of producing strawberries all year round. Spring is in the air, or it certainly should be, and for arable farmers that means sowing the seeds that will grow up into this summer's harvest. We're going to take a look at spring planting all through this week. What kind of impact has the wet winter weather had on spring planting - and what about soaring fuel and fertiliser costs?Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
https://youtu.be/HicyIaKqRgkMatt talks with Two Bit Da Vinci and Ziroth about Donut Lab's new battery, the controversy around it, and what they think it actually might be.Watch the Undecided with Matt Ferrell episode, The Breakthroughs My Net Zero Home is Missing https://youtu.be/hb2x5VcUT0I?list=PLnTSM-ORSgi7FwYRnWkpCSkAeFOzrgh5h(00:00) - - Intro (01:46) - - Donut Lab Conversation (01:01:40) - - Home Regrets Discussion YouTube version of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/stilltbdpodcastGet in touch: https://undecidedmf.com/podcast-feedbackSupport the show: https://pod.fan/still-to-be-determinedFollow us on X: @stilltbdfm @byseanferrell @mattferrell or @undecidedmfUndecided with Matt Ferrell: https://www.youtube.com/undecidedmf ★ Support this podcast ★
Former NHL All-Star Mike Richter leads Brightcore Energy, building energy-efficiency and geothermal systems for commercial and municipal buildings.Geothermal basics - Uses stable ~55°F ground temp as thermal battery; far more efficient than air-source systems in extreme tempsMarket gap - techGeology matters - Bedrock (e.g., Manhattan schist) lowers cost; sand and landfill increase complexity and capexFinancing wins deals - Energy-as-a-Service + 40–50% tax credits remove upfront cost barriers; nonprofits now eligibleCapital strategy - Took outside capital to fund equipment + long sales cycles; dilution vs bigger pie tradeoffFounder lesson - Transitioning domains requires humility; persistence beats speed in infrastructure markets--Work with mePrivate CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.comNewsletter3 decisions, 2 minutes. Climate finance, strategy, leadership. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.comLeave a reviewIf you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.
Fervo landed a large new loan with terms that strongly suggest the company's most turbulent days are behind it. Also, K2's Gravitas is an ambitious project that aims to demonstrate the tech needed to build data centers in space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Send me a messageWhat if one of the biggest climate problems in our buildings isn't power generation, but the fact we're still burning fuel in the basement?In this episode, I'm joined by Dan Yates, CEO of Dandelion Energy, to unpack why geothermal may be one of the most overlooked tools in climate tech today, and why building decarbonisation deserves far more attention in the wider energy transition debate. If we're serious about net zero and real emissions reduction, we need to stop treating heating as a side issue. Dan lays out a blunt truth: heating and cooling account for the vast majority of emissions from buildings, yet much of the conversation still fixates on EVs, solar, and batteries. You'll hear why some forms of electrification can create a nasty unintended consequence by driving winter peak demand through the roof, and why geothermal flips that logic on its head. We dig into how ground-source systems can cut energy use, slash peak load, and potentially reduce the need for expensive new grid infrastructure. You might be shocked to learn that this isn't just an HVAC story. It's a grid story. A policy story. A housing story. We also get into cost, leasing, incentives, data, and why Dan believes geothermal should be seen as distributed infrastructure hiding in plain sight. If you want a clearer view of what practical climate action looks like beyond the usual talking points, this one's worth your time.
From Shale to Steam: Can geothermal scale like oil & gas?Recorded live at the Baker Hughes Annual Meeting, Fervo Energy CEO Tim Latimer joins the Oilfield 360 podcast to explain why geothermal is the new "Shale 3.0."Tim breaks down how Eagle Ford drilling techniques are unlocking 500MW of carbon-free power at Project Cape, the impact of high-temp well design on drilling speed, and why the best leaders still know how to "stop and smell the roses."A sharp look at how oilfield innovation is defining the future of baseload energy!0:00 Why Oil & Gas Still Matters02:00 Live in Italy + Tim Intro (Fervo Energy)04:30 The Geothermal Spark07:45 Enhanced Geothermal Explained10:02 Finding the Temperature Sweet Spot13:50 Building Fervo18:18 Funding Hard Tech23:07 “Shale 3.0”27:22 Leadership & Culture30:10 Preventing Burnout35:05 Partnering with Baker Hughes41:18 Scaling to 500MW43:09 Decline Rates & Well Spacing46:24 Faster Drilling in Hot Granite48:37 Fatherhood & Advice53:15 Wrap-Up
Despite its ability to deliver ample carbon-free energy, the potential of geothermal and EGS is limited by the number of drilling sites close enough to the earth's surface. But a few pioneering companies have landed on a potential solution: dig way deeper. In this episode, Shayle speaks with Carlos Araque, the founder of Quaise Energy. The company has developed millimeter-wave drills to vaporize rock, allowing them to dig up to twelve miles underground in search of water around 800 degrees Fahrenheit. That super hot and "supercritical" water packs a huge punch: ten times more energy density than traditional geothermal. Shayle and Carlos explore a range of topics, including: Why 800 degree water is the “ideal” temperature for deep geothermal How "activating" permeability in deep rock differs from traditional fracking The state of Quaise's Oregon project pilot, including their goal of a commercial-grade flow test by the end of 2026 How the LCOE of super hot geothermal compares to traditional baseload energy sources Resources Catalyst: How geothermal gets built Open Circuit: Is this geothermal's breakout moment? Latitude Media: Armed with $115 million, geothermal startup Zanskar gets ready to build Green Blueprint: Sage Geosystems' bet on geothermal energy storage Latitude Media: Fervo's Tim Latimer is ‘bullish' on DOE funding for geothermal Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Max Savage Levenson. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor. Catalyst is brought to you by Uplight. Uplight activates energy customers and their connected devices to generate, shift, and save energy—improving grid resilience and energy affordability while accelerating decarbonization. Learn how Uplight is helping utilities unlock flexible load at scale at uplight.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Antenna Group, the public relations and strategic marketing agency of choice for climate, energy, and infrastructure leaders. If you're a startup, investor, or global corporation that's looking to tell your climate story, demonstrate your impact, or accelerate your growth, Antenna Group's team of industry insiders is ready to help. Learn more at antennagroup.com. Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com.
https://youtu.be/v1o7RY43K-EMatt and Sean talk about heat pump comparisons, and a full long-form discussion with Paul Braren from TinkerTry.comWatch the Undecided with Matt Ferrell episode, Did I Get the Wrong Heat Pump: Geothermal vs Air Source https://youtu.be/CPwQTUaU-jI?list=PLnTSM-ORSgi7uzySCXq8VXhodHB5B5OiQA couple of posts about our heat pump comparison on TinkerTry.com:https://tinkertry.com/planning-for-heat-pump-comforthttps://tinkertry.com/geothermal-vs-air-source-heat-pumps-feat-undecided-and-tinkertry(00:00) - - Intro (02:35) - - Undecided Feedback (09:23) - - Paul Braren Interview YouTube version of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/stilltbdpodcastGet in touch: https://undecidedmf.com/podcast-feedbackSupport the show: https://pod.fan/still-to-be-determinedFollow us on X: @stilltbdfm @byseanferrell @mattferrell or @undecidedmfUndecided with Matt Ferrell: https://www.youtube.com/undecidedmf ★ Support this podcast ★
The energy grid needs reliable, carbon-free power around the clock and geothermal might be the most underestimated solution on the table. A century of oil and gas expertise is now being repurposed to unlock heat sitting beneath our feet almost anywhere on Earth, and in doing so, it's also unlocking a new form of long-duration energy storage that requires no mountain, no reservoir, and no battery chemistry.In this episode, host Alejandro Diego sits down with Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geo Systems. Together they explore how Sage is moving beyond the geological constraints of conventional geothermal, what it takes to engineer a reservoir from scratch, how their underground pressure storage system works like an inverted pumped hydro plant, and why companies like Meta and the US Department of Defense are already signing on.You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Diego - US Market AnalystModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter:https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatch Chapters:00:00 Next-gen geothermal intro01:49 Cindy Taff background04:51 Geothermal opportunity07:19 Conventional geothermal limits08:39 How geothermal works10:38 Geothermal grid baseload11:44 US heat resource map13:13 Oil and gas drilling tech16:50 Discovering underground storage17:21 Earth Store technology18:07 Storage capacity explained19:35 Fast dispatch no degradation21:42 Pelton turbine explained23:47 Why viable now25:30 Energy storage business model27:12 Target customers28:27 Development obstacles29:52 Permitting process31:36 Meta 150MW deal33:41 5.5 terawatt potential36:17 Grid transformation impact37:49 What drives Cindy39:16 Direct heating use case40:30 Sage 2035 milestones42:20 Energy expansion contrarian view
The energy grid needs reliable, carbon-free power around the clock and geothermal might be the most underestimated solution on the table. A century of oil and gas expertise is now being repurposed to unlock heat sitting beneath our feet almost anywhere on Earth, and in doing so, it's also unlocking a new form of long-duration energy storage that requires no mountain, no reservoir, and no battery chemistry.In this episode, host Alejandro Diego sits down with Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geo Systems. Together they explore how Sage is moving beyond the geological constraints of conventional geothermal, what it takes to engineer a reservoir from scratch, how their underground pressure storage system works like an inverted pumped hydro plant, and why companies like Meta and the US Department of Defense are already signing on.You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Diego - US Market AnalystModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter:https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatch Chapters:00:00 Next-gen geothermal intro01:49 Cindy Taff background04:51 Geothermal opportunity07:19 Conventional geothermal limits08:39 How geothermal works10:38 Geothermal grid baseload11:44 US heat resource map13:13 Oil and gas drilling tech16:50 Discovering underground storage17:21 Earth Store technology18:07 Storage capacity explained19:35 Fast dispatch no degradation21:42 Pelton turbine explained23:47 Why viable now25:30 Energy storage business model27:12 Target customers28:27 Development obstacles29:52 Permitting process31:36 Meta 150MW deal33:41 5.5 terawatt potential36:17 Grid transformation impact37:49 What drives Cindy39:16 Direct heating use case40:30 Sage 2035 milestones42:20 Energy expansion contrarian view
Ever wanted a lower electrical bill during the summer or winter? Look no further than your friendly geothermal heat pump, that uses the ambient temperature of the Earth to heat or cool your home, office building, school, etc. It has often been overlooked in areas with hotter climates, regions where geothermal is primarily harvested for electricity or just for lack of knowledge behind the mechanics of deploying such a system. Well, in today's episode, I talk with Yale Carden of GeoExchange Australia, about the 20 years of developing, deploying, partnering and overall sharing of knowledge that he and team have done. GeoExchange Australia https://www.linkedin.com/company/geoexchange-australia/posts/?feedView=all Yale Carden https://www.linkedin.com/in/yalecarden/ CORE Knowledge https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-geothermal Nick Cestari https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-cestari-48059268/
Nikki Bruno learned early in her career that debates over climate change – and how to respond – are seldom black and white. Progress comes from honest discourse and collaboration.At Eversource, where she leads the utility's thermal solutions and operational services, Nikki manages a geothermal project that has brought together environmental activists, the utility's gas infrastructure team, ratepayers, and government leaders in Framingham, Mass. The result is the first utility-led geothermal network in the country, which came online in 2024.This week on With Great Power, Nikki Bruno describes how the gas and electric utility Eversource uses geothermal energy to power 140 homes and businesses. She talks about challenges and successes of the project, how Eversource is now expanding it with Energy Department funding, and how the utility is measuring success.Credits: Hosted by Brad Langley. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. The GridX production team includes Jenni Barber, Samantha McCabe, and Brad Langley.
Conventional geothermal energy is limited to specific hot spots, but “closed-loop” geothermal, by going deeper and confining water to sealed boreholes, promises to work almost anywhere; it amounts to building a giant radiator, deep underground. I'm joined by Jeanine Vany and Mark Fitzgerald of pioneering closed-loop startup Eavor to discuss their newly operational plant in Germany and the many advantages of a system that requires no fracking and consumes no water. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe
The U.S. climate landscape has shifted dramatically from passing historic legislation to facing a "full-frontal attack" on clean energy policy. As federal rules are scaled back and agencies are hollowed out, how do climate organizations and green tech companies survive—and even thrive—in such an environment? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Moyer, founder of Echo Communications, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications firm. Chris works at the intersection of climate tech, clean energy, and policy, helping innovators tell their stories effectively when public opinion and political levers are being pulled in the opposite direction. The Strategic Pivot to "Kitchen Table" Issues: Chris discusses why the climate movement is shifting away from talking about "half-degree temperature increases" to focusing on immediate costs. The most effective messaging today connects clean energy to a 30% lower electric bill for busy families rather than long-term existential threats. A "Speed Bump, Not a Wall": Despite the rollback of wind permits and new hurdles for solar on federal land, Chris remains optimistic. He views this current political period in 2025 as a temporary slowing of an inevitable transition, noting that robust investment in climate tech continues because the economic case is simply too strong to ignore. The Rise of Geothermal and Nuclear: In the current political climate, only a few clean technologies are finding favor with the administration. Chris highlights the growing interest in advanced geothermal and nuclear power, largely driven by the massive energy demands of AI and data centers. Fighting the "Misinformation Ecosystem": Chris shares a cautionary tale from the offshore wind industry, where misinformation contributed to a 15% drop in public support in less than a year. He provides advice for entrepreneurs on how to assert facts without being confrontational to win back public opinion. The Permitting Bottleneck: We explore why so much clean energy is "sitting in a queue" and why reforming the U.S. permitting system is the single most critical step to meeting growing electricity demand. Join us for a masterclass in climate communications and a realistic look at how the energy transition is moving forward, one strategic message at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If it seems like you're hearing a lot more about geothermal energy lately, that's because this clean, firm energy source is at a technological turning point. With roots in the 1970s, enhanced geothermal systems aren't exactly new. But they're finally hitting paydirt — or rather, steam — thanks to improved drilling techniques borrowed from the fracking boom. These advances have made geothermal energy production potentially viable outside of the Western states in the US, where it's long been a small but steady source of power. So what is the state of geothermal energy and what's behind the current surge in innovation? How are falling costs and sustained policy support helping geothermal producers gain more traction right now? And what are the next technical frontiers that could lead to even more productive geothermal wells? This week, Bill Loveless speaks to Roland Horne about the state of geothermal technology, particularly enhanced geothermal systems. Roland is the Thomas Davies Barrow professor of earth sciences, professor of energy science and engineering, and director of the geothermal program at Stanford University. He's also a senior fellow at Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy. Over his career, he has made significant technical contributions to the field of geothermal energy production Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Gregory Vilfranc.
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Today on The Wright Report, Bryan covers the long-delayed arrest of the 2021 Capitol pipe bomber suspect, rising political tension over a Pentagon narco boat strike, new low-cost American kamikaze drones, Trump's self deportation strategy for illegal aliens, growing backlash over recent presidential pardons, and major breakthroughs in geothermal energy and rare earth mineral competition. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Capitol pipe bomber arrest, Brian Cole Jr., Pentagon narco boat strike, LUCAS drone, Trump immigration policy, self deportation, presidential pardons, rare earth minerals, geothermal energy, Zanskar, Oregon drilling test