Decarbonizing the world’s electricity supply will take more than solar panels and wind turbines. EVs need on-board batteries and grid-scale storage is required to solve the intermittency problems with their alternate energy sources. Batteries are going to be a critical element in the net-zero energy chain. The critical minerals that will be needed for all those batteries is going to require a lot of new sources for lithium, graphite, nickel, copper and cobalt and hopefully a way to recycle the batteries when they are done. Yes, a lot more mining and processing the minerals as well. Chinese companies have a big share of this market right now, at least in the processing segment, but the rest of the world, including the EU and the US are trying to catch up. Currently the best grid-scale storage relies on hydroelectric systems but in most places the dams and power plants are already installed. A solution like the Tesla Power Pack provides other options. But the reality is, we need to mine for materials that the future of energy will need. In this episode we will be talking to Dr. Priscilla Nelson from the Colorado School of Mines to learn more about the past and the future of mining.References: Tailings Center, Colorado School of Mines https://tailingscenter.com/ Colorado School of Mines Mining Department https://mining.mines.edu/Mine of the Future https://www.minesnewsroom.com/news/colorado-school-mines-helping-guide-industry-forward-mine-future

The oil and gas industry is under increasing pressure to stop leaks of methane from their production operations. We read a lot about increasing regulations but in this episode we will talk to several experts about what the oil and gas industry is doing in response to the new laws. There is an interesting technology story here as well. Emerging technology from satellites, to planes and drones to sensors placed around a production facility are improving to help operators, inspectors and the local community, both identify and mitigate these leaks, sometimes called fugitive emissions. To find out what is going on and how well new inspection and facilities designs are working out, we will talk to Darcy Spady of Carbon Connect and get their field reports and thoughts about future operations. There is some good news in that emissions from large operators in North America and elsewhere are falling, not yet zero but a steady trend of less flares and emissions. But the job isn’t done yet and our experts can give us a progress report on where the industry performance stands in a KPI they call methane intensity.References: Carbon Connect International https://www.carbonconnectinternational.com/Oil and Gas Climate Initiative https://www.ogci.com/carbon-intensity-target/

To find the first geothermal power plant in the world you have to go to Tuscany, Italy in the early twentieth century. The creation of the first geothermal power plant was thanks to Prince Piero Ginori Conti of Trevignano. Conti initially worked for his father-in-law Florestano de Larderel in the processing of boric acid. It was through this work that Conti eventually found his way into geothermal energy with the creation of the first geothermal energy generator in 1904. Based at the Lardorello dry steam field, Conti’s generator was able to produce 10 kW of energy and power five light bulbs. From these humble beginnings, the geothermal potential of Lardorello was expanded in 1911. In an area known as the Devil’s Valley the world’s first geothermal power plant was completed in 1913. In this episode we talk with John Clegg of Hephae Energy on his career path from drilling oil and gas wells to developing drill bits and drilling tools for hot, dry rock for enhanced geothermal systems. Technology developed for unconventional oil and gas reservoirs may be the inspiration for this new industry. Innovation at work.ReferencesHephae Energy Technology https://www.linkedin.com/company/hephae-energy-technology/IADC Geothermal Well Classificaiton https://iadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IADC-Geothermal-Well-Classification-v1.pdf