Despite uncertainty for US clean energy investors, things are looking good for the geothermal sector. US$1.7 billion in public funding was pumped into geothermal projects in Q1 this year - 85% of 2024's entire annual allocation – as breakthrough technologies promise to transform untapped resources into commercially viable clean energy projects.
Enhanced geothermal and advanced geothermal technologies are making geothermal energy accessible anywhere, not just at existing sites chosen for their high-temperatures.
To explore the science behind EGS and AGS, host Sylvia Leyva Martinez is joined by John Plack, VP of engineering at Ameresco. John explains how techniques adapted from the oil and gas sector, like directional drilling and reservoir stimulation, are improving geothermal's commercial viability. John shares what’s changed since the IRA’s passage, the role of EGS, and why improved subsurface mapping is critical to unlocking investment.
Geothermal is currently supplying less than 1% of global energy needs, but could provide 15% of worldwide power by 2050. The US leads global geothermal power production, yet its 4 GW of installed capacity leaves vast resources untapped. Total potential US geothermal capacity exceeds 500 GW, with the best sites in western states featuring temperatures above 150°C and heat flow rates exceeding 80 milliwatts per square metre.
Investment is there, and the technology is there, so has the impact of the Trump administration’s energy policy been lighter for geothermal than other sectors like wind and solar? Why?
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