Big Oil partners with clean energy to advance geothermal energy

Major oil companies are joining forces with startups and scientists to use oil industry technology to accelerate geothermal energy, which could become a key source of clean, on-demand power.

Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.

In short:

Oil companies and startups in Houston are exploring ways to apply oil drilling technology to geothermal energy production.
The Department of Energy projects geothermal could power 260 million homes by midcentury with the right investments.
The new Geothermal Energy from Oil and Gas Demonstrated Engineering (GEODE) consortium aims to tackle barriers to scaling geothermal, including financing and technical challenges.

Key quote:

“There’s a lot of technical resources in the oil and gas industry that can be systematically applied to the geothermal sector.”

— Tim Latimer, CEO of Fervo Energy

Why this matters:

Geothermal energy could play a vital role in the shift to renewable energy by providing consistent, zero-carbon electricity. Collaboration between the oil industry and clean energy startups could accelerate breakthroughs needed to overcome current technical and financial obstacles.

Related EHN coverage:

thehill.com

Big Oil partners with clean energy to advance geothermal energy

New Zealand’s climate ‘entering uncharted territory’ as greenhouse gases hit record highs

Solar power is helping the Global South skip fossil fuels

Utah needs a ‘Code Red’ policy to protect the homeless from extreme heat, report says

Colombia’s new government backs fracking as debate over energy future heats up

New documents add to evidence in climate deception case against ExxonMobil

Climate change and farming gave rise to ‘genetically distinct’ Beijing swan goose

Scientists who put faith in technology less likely to take climate action

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.