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

Geothermal energy is gaining traction as oil and natural gas majors funnel substantial investments into startups and projects that use drilling techniques akin to fracking to harness underground heat for clean power generation. Fervo Energy has recently announced a $244 million funding round, led by investors including Devon Energy and commodity trader Mercuria, while startups Eavor Technologies and Sage Geosystems have received backing from BP, Chevron and Chesapeake Energy. In this episode on the next generation geothermal we have the opportunity to talk to Dr. Will Fleckenstein about EGS or enhanced geothermal systems and his new startup company applying the oil and gas concept of conformance control to a geothermal reservoir. This industry is heating up , no pun intended.References:DOE Enhanced Geothermal Systems https://www.energy.gov/eere/geothermal/enhanced-geothermal-systems Fervo's Cape Station geothermal power plant https://capestation.com/

What is the role of AI in the future of Energy?You read about artificial intelligence or AI every day. But I was surprised that Ai could be a factor in the energy transition, both as a sophisticated way of developing new solutions and optimizing current processes but also as a new source of growing energy demand with the new data centers and computing chips that are very energy-hungry. Data centers are not what they used to be before the AI revolution. data centers have exploded in size in terms of power consumption. Ten years ago, a 30-megawatt (MW) center was considered large. Today, a 200-MW facility is considered normal and a 1GW center is proposed. I don’t think the utilities saw this coming. I think this was a surprise to most folks. In our episode today we have USC professor Dr. Benham Jafarpour from the USC Information Sciences Institute to help us better understand the opportunities and challenges of AI and how these new hyperscale data centers are impacting energy demand forecasts. Some of the tech companies from Silicon Valley are even turning to private power contracts where they negotiate deals with geothermal and even nuclear power generators to run their new data centers. The new AI GPU chips are very energy-hungry and have changed the way data centers have to be operated. This should be another real eye-opener for all of us.ReferencesSubsurface Energy and Environmental Systems (SEES) https://sees.usc.edu/ https://carboncredits.com/u-s-data-centers-power-demand-surges-to-46000-mw-whats-driving-the-growth/

Sometimes we worry too much about emerging technologies that we forget that there are powerful natural solutions as well, say like photosynthesis that takes carbon dioxide and water out of the air and converts it into chemical energy. Plants, especially hard wood trees, are the superheroes of the carbon cycle. The water cycle is essential for life. The problem is when human activity gets in the way of the earth’s processes that are trying to achieve balance for a livable planet. Maybe we should try to help the earth instead of fighting against it? As part of our “getting back to nature” episode, we have the privilege to talk to Flora Moon of Expressworks on nature-based solutions to climate change. We need to keep our minds open to different kinds of solutions for the Energy Transition and Flora is one of those experts we need to listen to. If we can better understand natural processes like the carbon cycle and the water cycle and help it along a little bit, we will have a powerful ally in the energy transition.

references

https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/natural-climate-solutions/

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2022/05/19/what-you-need-to-know-about-nature-based-solutions-to-climate-change

Welcome to the Future of Energy podcast brought to you by the University of Southern California Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition. On this podcast we dive into the technologies, policies, and bold ideas shaping our transition to a low carbon future. In this episode we are joined by a visionary entrepreneur who is transforming the future of energy, Teague Egan founder and CEO of Energy X. Since founding the company in 2018, Egan has led the development of groundbreaking technologies in lithium extraction and energy storage- core innovations that will determine the success of the global clean energy transition. Energy X is behind major initiatives like Project Black Giant in Chile and Project Lone Star in the US and holds over 120 patents. From AI to nanotechnology, Egan's work spans the frontiers of science and business, and his journey from USC alumnus to energy pioneer is as inspiring as it isimpactful. Join us in this conversation as we explore the future of batteries, the economics of energy and innovation, and what it really takes to build a more sustainable world.References: https://energyx.com/Producer: Elisabeth Arnold WeissEditor: Abhineet Kumar

Welcome to the Future of Energy podcast brought to you by the University of Southern California Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition. On this show we explore the people, ideas, and innovations driving our transition to a sustainable low carbon future. This episode features an extraordinary guest whose influence in climate leadership spans decades- Terry Tamminen. From advising Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on environmental policy as the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, to leading the development of the blue economy as President and CEO of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, Tamminen has long been at the forefront of sustainable development. Our student co-hosts Mila Rehak and Sophie Bietel dive into Tamminen's experience shaping California's environmental strategy, the evolving blue economy, and what lies ahead for the future of renewable energy. Stay with us for an inspiring and insightful discussion.References: https://altasea.org/Producer: Elisabeth Arnold WeissEditor: Abhineet Kumar