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

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? In our “getting back to nature” episode, we have the privilege to talk to Flora Moon of Expressworks on nature-based solutions to climate change, to Dr. Mahta Moghaddam the director of the USC Viterbi Center for Arid climate (AWARE) and Terry Tamminen also from AltaSea and former head of California EPA. We need to keep our minds open to different kinds of solutions for the Energy Transition and these experts are just the ones we need to listen to.References: https://sites.usc.edu/watercenter/front-page/home/

While clean energy goals are critical, environmental groups have expressed their concerns around the environmental damage that would occur as a result of an increase in mining in the U.S. In addition to the lasting environmental harm, mining activities disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. According to a notable MSCI study, many of the transition mineral deposits in the U.S. are located near or within culturally or environmentally important areas to Indigenous Peoples. ” A recent study published in Nature Sustainability found that 54% of mining projects globally are located on or near Indigenous Peoples’ lands. In the United States, 79% of lithium, 68% of cobalt, 97% of nickel, and 89% of copper reserves and resources in the U.S. are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations. In our final episode of season two we get an opportunity to talk to two graduate students at the Colorado School of Mines from Native American communities, Kiara Billy and Alex Brunson. Their stories, like those of so many others in our podcast are fascinating and instructive.Stay tuned for season three with more perspectives on the Future of Energy.References . https://iasj.org/shifting-gears-part-ii-indigenous-peoples-rights-and-mining-in-the-u-s/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20%E2%80%9C97%25%20of%20nickel%2C%2089%25%20of%20copper%2C,located%20within%2035%20miles%20of%20Native%20American%20reservations.%E2%80%9D