DeepPower, Inc. CEO Andrew Van Noy has been actively engaging in discussions about the advancements and potential of geothermal energy, clean energy, and non-partisan politics. Recently, Van Noy spoke with the CEO of the International Geothermal Association (IGA), Dr. Marit Brommer, about the progress made in the geothermal energy industry over the past 6 years. Dr. Brommer emphasized the need to educate lawmakers and the general public about the value of geothermal energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The IGA is committed to promoting geothermal energy as a gamechanger for achieving sustainable development goals [9bc4bb14].
In another conversation, Van Noy discussed clean energy and non-partisan politics with Nebraska State Senator Carol Blood. The podcast conversation focused on the importance of local issues and data-driven decision-making. Senator Blood highlighted the role of agriculture in Nebraska's economy and the willingness of farmers to adopt new technologies to reduce fuel costs. She also mentioned the nitrate problem in Nebraska and the state's goal to be net zero with carbon use by 2050. DeepPower, with its geothermal drilling technology, aims to provide low-cost green electricity by harnessing the Earth's heat energy [f58ecf7e].
In a significant development, Meta Platforms and Sage Geosystems have announced a partnership aimed at expanding geothermal power in the USA, specifically to support Meta's growing data center operations. This partnership is particularly timely, as the supply of data centers under construction in North America has surged by 69% year-over-year, reaching a total capacity of 3.9 GW. The collaboration is set to deliver up to 150 MW of geothermal baseload power, with the first phase expected to be operational by 2027. Executives from both companies recently met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk and members of the Biden-Harris Administration to discuss the initiative. Urvi Parekh from Meta emphasized the importance of reliable, affordable, and carbon-free power, while Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage, highlighted the significance of public-private collaboration in the clean energy transition [990bbd2c].
Iceland has become an 85% renewable energy economy, with heating, cooling, and some electricity generated from hydropower, geothermal, solar, and wind. The country is also capturing the small amount of CO2 emitted by geothermal energy and storing it underground. The potential for geothermal energy is enormous, with the U.S. Department of Energy stating that next-gen geothermal could provide 90 GW by 2050, enough to power over 65 million American homes. The Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act include billions of dollars for research and development of geothermal energy. The U.S. has formed the U.S.-Iceland Energy Partnership to learn from Iceland's experience in geothermal energy. The partnership is part of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation (P-TECC), which includes 22 countries. The U.S. is also funding geothermal plants in several western states. Geothermal energy could provide a natural transition for oil and gas workers, as the excavation process is similar. However, geothermal pay is currently not as high as in the oil and gas sector. The U.S. is offering funding for pilot projects of Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) through a new round of funding. The goal is to accelerate and scale geothermal energy as part of the strategy to decarbonize the U.S. energy system by 2050.