Jocelyn Lai, Co-founder and CEO of Bedrock Energy, discusses her innovative geothermal energy solutions for large buildings. She explains how Bedrock’s methods stand out from traditional geothermal techniques and how they tap into the existing HVAC market. Jocelyn shares insights on integrating geothermal systems in commercial spaces and the proprietary technology behind their deep drilling. The conversation also touches on client engagement strategies and the increasing market demand for sustainable solutions, showcasing Bedrock's vision for a greener future.
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insights INSIGHT
Grid Challenges of Heat Pumps
Heat pumps increase grid load, especially during peak times (summer/winter).
This creates challenges for grid stability and increases electricity bills.
insights INSIGHT
Target Market
Bedrock Energy targets both retrofits and new constructions for geothermal systems.
The choice depends on customer needs, with retrofits prevalent in areas with existing buildings and new constructions in high-growth regions.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Retrofit Example
Jocelyn Lai visited a large office building with existing air source chillers.
A retrofit would involve switching to water source chillers connected to the ground.
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Joselyn Lai is the Co-founder and CEO at Bedrock Energy. Bedrock uses geothermal energy to transform the heating and cooling of buildings.
We've covered geothermal on the show a few times, but Bedrock brings a unique approach. On one end of the spectrum, we've explored large utility-scale geothermal projects, which aim to drill deep to tap into underground steam vents for turbine-powered electricity generation. On the other end, we've featured companies that drill relatively shallow wells to create underground loops, providing ground-source insulation for residential heat pumps. Bedrock falls closer to this second category but goes deeper than most residential projects, using these techniques to power heat pumps for large commercial and industrial buildings.
We were interested to hear from Joselyn about the technology she's developed to pursue this opportunity, what market demand looks like, and how her solution compares against the HVAC status quo and commercial-scale air-source heat pumps.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:24] Overview of Bedrock Energy and its geothermal approach
[4:03] How Bedrock’s methods differ from other geothermal generation techniques
[5:15] Joselyn's journey to founding Bedrock Energy
[8:14] Focusing on the existing HVAC market
[13:18] Integration of geothermal systems into commercial buildings
[16:57] Overview of Bedrock's underground geothermal technology
[22:18] On-site footprint of Bedrock’s geothermal solutions
[29:32] Proprietary software and drilling innovations for efficient deployments
[31:29] Understanding Bedrock’s early customer base
[34:26] Challenges related to geology and labor shortages
[38:58] Collaborating with utilities for enhanced grid benefits
[43:57] Bedrock Energy’s progress and milestones so far
Inevitable