『The Geothermal Energy Podcast』のカバーアート

The Geothermal Energy Podcast

The Geothermal Energy Podcast

著者： Frank Lapinski
無料で聴く

このコンテンツについて

 Interviewing the movers and shakers of geothermal! Episodes coming out soon (expect roughly 3 per month) We also publish a weekly newsletter that you can subscribe to here: https://geothermalweekly.substack.com/

geothermalweekly.substack.comGeothermal Weekly 博物学 科学 自然・生態学
エピソード
  • Eric Bosworth - Manager of Clean Technology at Eversource [Part 2]

    Eric Bosworth - Manager of Clean Technology at Eversource [Part 2]
    2025/05/15

    Hello folks,

    Welcome back to Part 2 of our conversation with Eric Bosworth (watch part 1 here).

    Eric is the Manager of Clean Technology at Eversource, his journey spanning oilfield engineering, utility infrastructure, and emerging decarbonization technologies. Currently, Eric leads efforts to pilot and scale alternatives to fossil gas - including hydrogen, carbon capture, and (most relevant) community-scale geothermal.

    He draws on field experience in oil and gas, system planning expertise from utility engineering, and a customer-first approach to identify and deploy the best-fit solutions across Eversource’s portfolio. Most notably, Eric led the development and execution of the Framingham geothermal pilot - one of the first utility-owned thermal energy networks in the United States.

    🧠 Highlights

    * Framingham's real-world data shows strong winter performance and customer satisfaction, even in extreme cold.

    * Scaling = viability: Networked geothermal shows falling marginal costs with larger customer bases.

    * Magic wand wish? Eric would create more drilling firms in the Northeast tomorrow; workforce gaps are the biggest blocker to scale.

    * Beyond boreholes: A future “thermal marketplace” could trade heat between buildings, pools, wastewater, and more.

    🔍 Where to Learn More

    * Project updates & background: eversource.com/geothermal

    * Find Eric on LinkedIn to connect and collaborate

    * Industry groups: Heat pump alliances, geothermal networks, utility decarbonization forums



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit geothermalweekly.substack.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    37 分
  • [Part 1] Eric Bosworth - Manager of Clean Technology at Eversource

    [Part 1] Eric Bosworth - Manager of Clean Technology at Eversource
    2025/05/08
    Hi folks, We are back! This week, we’re bringing you part 1 of our conversation with Eric Bosworth!Eric is the Manager of Clean Technology at Eversource, his journey spanning oilfield engineering, utility infrastructure, and emerging decarbonization technologies. Currently, Eric leads efforts to pilot and scale alternatives to fossil gas - including hydrogen, carbon capture, and (most relevant) community-scale geothermal.He draws on field experience in oil and gas, system planning expertise from utility engineering, and a customer-first approach to identify and deploy the best-fit solutions across Eversource’s portfolio. Most notably, Eric led the development and execution of the Framingham geothermal pilot - one of the first utility-owned thermal energy networks in the United States.🧠 Highlights* Utility leadership in geothermal: Eversource demonstrates how utilities can leverage existing gas infrastructure expertise to deploy geothermal networks.* Framingham pilot as blueprint: A 140-customer, closed-loop system built within a mile-long loop highlights the viability of utility-owned thermal networks.* Permitting, community buy-in, and modeling: Success hinged on shallow bedrock, EJ-community alignment, and relentless community outreach paired with rigorous engineering modeling.🔧 Eric’s Journey into Geothermal* Started as a field engineer with an international oilfield services company Schlumberger (now SLB).* Transitioned back to the U.S., worked on gas engineering at Eversource.* Volunteered for clean tech efforts, leading Eversource's geothermal pilot.* Past drilling experience proved invaluable for utility-scale geothermal deployment.🏛 Role at Eversource: Clean Technology Strategy* Evaluates a suite of decarbonized solutions: geothermal, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), hydrogen, carbon capture.* Applies a customer-centric framework to identify the right solution:* Geothermal fits for heating/cooling needs (residential, mixed-use, commercial).* Molecule-based solutions like hydrogen/RNG better suit high-heat industrial customers.🧪 Inside the Framingham Geothermal Pilot* 140 customers across 36 buildings in Framingham, MA.* Closed-loop system with 90 boreholes in a ~1-mile loop.* Launched via a 2019 gas rate case (a utility-regulator process to approve capital projects).Why Framingham?* Environmental Justice community - aligned with equity goals.* Shallow bedrock (~30 ft) - reduced casing costs and improved heat transfer.* Strong community partner - city support and diverse building mix (residential, commercial, housing authority).📊 Site Selection + Modeling Process* Screening: Load mix, street space, depth to bedrock, customer interest.* Test boreholes post-selection to verify thermal properties.* Thermal network design:* Borehole spacing (20-25 ft) and placement modeled for loop stability.* Minimized thermal drift across customers in the network loop.* Tools used (via external Professional Engineering firm):* Borefield performance simulators* Transient energy modeling for pipes* Building load analysis🏗 Construction & Bidding ExecutionBidding Strategy:* Split into 3 scopes:* Drilling* Loop infrastructure (high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, mains, pump house)* Building conversion (heat pumps, ductwork, electrical)* Flexibility: Bidders could propose on full or partial scopes.* Winning bidder was a long-time gas pipeline contractor — installation process nearly identical to gas.Operations Notes:* Pipe used is standard HDPE, just black with “geothermal” instead of yellow gas striping.* General Contractor model used: prime contractor oversaw subcontractors for drilling, instrumentation, etc.📣 Customer Outreach StrategyChallenges:* Knocking on doors as a utility = skepticism.Strategy:* Repurposed internal sales and marketing team to act as geothermal outreach reps.* Delivered:* Multilingual fact sheets, door hangers, community meetings and engagement.* Check out our podcast with Jen Wakeland to learn more about how geothermal energy can engage well with local communities.* Hosted Q&As to build trust and clarity.* Leveraged city of Framingham as a key ally for legitimacy and communication.* You can also see their website here.📝 Permitting in Massachusetts* Closed-loop geothermal = low regulatory friction.* Approval via city council and conservation commission.* No extensive state or environmental hurdles.* Easier than other states like NY, which previously required mining permits for deep drilling.🛠 Lessons for Developers & Financiers* Utilities can deploy geothermal using existing gas pipeline teams - shared skillsets and tooling.* Shallow bedrock drastically reduces costs - site selection must prioritize geology.* Community trust must be earned - requires persistent, multi-channel communication.* Permitting varies widely by state - closed-loop systems often face fewer barriers.* Thermal network design is nontrivial - must model pipe loss, load variance, and peak ...
    続きを読む 一部表示
    24 分
  • Michael Brookman - Quaise Energy's Senior RF Engineer

    Michael Brookman - Quaise Energy's Senior RF Engineer
    2025/04/17
    In this episode, I sit down with Michael Brookman, a seasoned physicist whose career has spanned from nuclear fusion research to pioneering advancements in geothermal energy. Currently serving as a Senior Radio-Frequency (RF) Engineer at Quaise Energy, Michael focuses on leveraging RF technology to revolutionize geothermal energy production.Episode Highlights:* Michael's Journey: From his early days studying physics at the University of Wisconsin to his pivotal roles in nuclear fusion projects across the U.S., including his tenure at General Atomics and Commonwealth Fusion Systems.​* Transition to Geothermal: The motivations and insights that led Michael to shift from fusion to geothermal energy, emphasizing the potential for immediate impact, reduced cost, and scalability.​* Innovative Drilling Techniques: An exploration of how Quaise Energy is adapting gyrotron technology—originally used in fusion reactors—to drill deep into the Earth's crust using millimeter waves, enabling access to superhot geothermal resources. ​* Overcoming Challenges: A discussion on the technical and regulatory hurdles in advancing geothermal technology and how Michael's team is addressing them.​Join us as we delve into the intersection of fusion and geothermal technologies and discover how innovations in one field can catalyze breakthroughs in another.Thanks for reading The Geothermal Energy Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive our new posts and podcast weekly!🧭 Michael’s Journey: From Shotgun Accident to Fusion Physicist* Survived a childhood hunting accident, discovered fusion through video games like MechWarrior and Civilization.* Studied physics at University of Wisconsin (working on the Madison Symmetric Torus), then UT Austin for PhD (with Ken Gentle’s group)* Specialized in RF systems and gyrotrons at General Atomics (working on their tokamak, DIII-D) and Commonwealth Fusion Systems.🔁 Why the Leap from Fusion to Geothermal?* Quase’s 2030 timeline is half that of fusion’s long timelines (2035+).* Geothermal works now, and Quaise aims for <$75/MWh vs. fusion’s projected $140–$500/MWh.* Inspired by How Big Things Get Done—modularity is key to scaling - many gyrotrons making many wells.💡 What is Quaise Doing?Goal: Unlock superhot geothermal by drilling with millimeter waves.The Tech:* Gyrotrons generate high-power millimeter waves that can drill through rock; basically they’re laser beams.* Current testing shows drilling to be at a rate of a meter per hour.* Power is transmitted through corrugated waveguides to vaporize rock—no conventional drill bits needed, avoiding typical wear and tear, bit trucking.* Uses compressed air to cool and clear debris from the hole.* See a video of the drilling in action here. Learn more about the research here.If you’ve read this far, you’ll like our future posts too : )🔬 Tech Challenges and Evolution* Managing arcing (essentially current hopping about the system in potentially damaging ways) in high-power systems (shutoff within 10 microseconds).* System resilience: Quaise’s protection systems and control software allow for long, stable runtimes—orders of magnitude longer than fusion pulses.* Powering the system: Needs ~3 MW input for 1 MW output (~40% efficiency). Can use diesel generators or grid, all containerized on trucks.* Manufacturing bottleneck: Gyrotrons are custom-built. Quaise works with Microwave Power Products to scale production.⚙️ Why Superhot Rock?* Electricity generated by heating water, putting it through a turbine, extracting power from the temperature & pressure drop - Higher input temperatures and lower output temperatures → higher thermodynamic efficiency* More energy per well = higher power density = more competitive with fossil and nuclear.🧱 Barriers to Scale* Permitting takes 12+ months—slower than oil & gas (<12 months).* Goal: modernize geothermal permitting to match its competitors.📈 What’s Next?* Near-term: Field deployment west of Austin, TX using 1 MW gyrotrons in truck-mounted systems.* Target: Delivering power in 5 years on the West Coast at scale; global expansion beyond that.* Long-term goals:* Scaling 1 MW gyrotrons (faster, deeper drilling) and drilling into hot basement rock (granite, basalt).* Lower cost per megawatt-hour to compete with all major energy sources✨ Magic Wand Wish:Fix permitting. It’s the single biggest blocker to faster geothermal deployment.📚 Learn More🔗 https://www.quaise.energyRemember to:And follow us on your favorite platforms in addition to sharing your thoughts, questions, and recommendations for future guests on:* Substack* Spotify* Apple Music* Amazon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit geothermalweekly.substack.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    33 分

The Geothermal Energy Podcastに寄せられたリスナーの声

カスタマーレビュー：以下のタブを選択することで、他のサイトのレビューをご覧になれます。

Audible.co.jp

Amazon.co.jp
レビューはまだありません。