Tuesday, 10 December, 2024 / Edition 37

I know I’m not the only one who feels like time speeds up exponentially this time of year. There’s a lot to do, see, and take in. While the calendar is winding down, activities are winding up, so I’ll be brief, but let’s see what’s new in tech and innovation this week!

Sarah Compton

Editor, Enspired

Incorporating Future Forecasts into Our Models

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A new study warns that current plans to achieve zero emissions on the grid by 2050 vastly underestimate the required investments in electricity generation and transmission infrastructure.

Researchers combined detailed water and electricity system models to evaluate how the Western Interconnection grid could adapt to climate change and develop carbon-free generation by 2050, while accounting for interactions and climate vulnerabilities in the water sector. 

They found that hydropower generation could decrease by up to 23 percent by 2050, while electricity demand could increase by 2 percent.

• The group “evaluated these connected models with the downscaled climate projections for 2030−2050 from an ensemble of 15 Global Circulation Models.”

• While these scientists focused on factoring in the impact of hydropower generation and electrical demand, the authors acknowledge that their estimates do not take into account power-hungry tech and developments, such as data centers and widespread electrification of buildings. The authors mentioned those should be future avenues of study.

• To adapt, the study shows that the region may need to build up to 139 GW of additional generating capacity between 2030 and 2050, nearly 3x California’s peak demand. Doing this could incur up to $150 billion (+7 percent) in extra costs.

“Without explicitly quantifying how climate change and water interdependencies may together affect future electricity supply and demand, grid planners may significantly underestimate the magnitude and type of resources needed to achieve decarbonization goals and maintain grid reliability,” the researchers write.

This study demonstrates the need for more advanced model considerations that integrate the predicted effects of climate change at local levels with renewable energy generation methods and projected energy requirements: a perfect niche for well-rounded geoscientists to fill!

Read the full study, published in Nature, here.

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Gradient Geothermal Partners with Chord

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Geothermal energy has many positives, but some challenges include the high cost of drilling geothermal wells and the logistics of effectively extracting heat from subsurface fluids.

Denver-based Gradient Geothermal sidesteps those requirements by utilizing heat from fluids already being produced. Here’s how it works:

• Oil and gas companies extract fluids as they would for typical production operations.

• Gradient Geothermal’s HXC System fit-for-purpose organic Rankine cycle equipment can be used to cool produced fluids to meet pipeline specifications, as well as generate onsite, emissions-free electricity for use on the pad or to be net-metered to the grid.

• A recent release explained: “By harnessing the thermal energy already present at the site, this approach bolsters the project’s efficiency via converting what would otherwise be wasted heat into a valuable energy asset.”

Gradient Geothermal has been working on this technology for a while, including a pilot test in 2022 where they partnered with ElectraTherm and an operator called Grant Canyon Oil and Gas in Nevada to successfully generate clean, lower-carbon electricity.

They’re now scaling up via a partnership with North American independent operator and producer Chord Energy. Through partial funding from the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the two companies aim to foster geothermal energy produced at Chord’s facilities in North Dakota using Gradient tech.

What they are saying: “Properly capturing highly sustainable geothermal energy already present at active energy production projects presents a new avenue of opportunity for government agencies and leading commercial entities alike, and we could not be more excited to work with Chord to help deploy Gradient’s innovative technology within this expansive, forward-thinking initiative”—Dr. Benjamin Burke, CEO, Gradient Geothermal

Two of Gradient’s three C-suite execs are geoscientists, and it’s been exciting to watch the company grow into the front runner in geothermal integration that it’s turning into today. Just goes to show, geos’ expertise are definitely valued, needed, and actively helping new tech advance daily!

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✉️ To get in touch with Sarah or suggest a topic for Enspired, send an email to editorial@aapg.org.