The current energy discourse is heavily focused on grid resilience, according to Joselyn Lai, CEO of Bedrock Energy. She emphasized, “Geothermal’s role in the energy ecosystem will actually increase because of the concerns about meeting load growth.”
Bedrock Energy, established in Austin, Texas, in 2022, is poised to undertake one of its most significant drilling projects to date. The company is also developing a similarly ambitious project in Crested Butte, Colorado. Bedrock aims to lower the cost associated with shallow-depth geothermal drilling by utilizing robotics and artificial intelligence-driven data analytics.
Employing a single, continuous steel pipe for the drilling process enables Bedrock to enhance efficiency compared to traditional methods that rely on numerous shorter pipe segments. This innovation allows for quicker drilling and streamlined data transmission from sensors positioned near the drill head to the surface.
Interest is growing not only in shallow, low-temperature geothermal systems for heating and cooling but also in deep, hot-rock geothermal systems designed to generate steam for electricity. New enhanced geothermal systems that incorporate hydraulic fracturing techniques, originally developed for the oil and gas sector, are expanding the scope of geothermal energy capabilities.
Tim Toor from the Colorado Energy Office expressed optimism about geothermal electricity, citing the state’s ambitious target to cut carbon emissions from the electricity sector by 80 percent by 2030. He noted that geothermal power, capable of providing clean, consistent electricity, is expected to play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
The University of Colorado, Boulder, is evaluating the potential for geothermal energy to support heating, cooling, and electricity generation. The university has secured grants for preliminary feasibility studies from the state’s energy office.
Local officials in Hayden are drawn to the reliability of geothermal technology. “Geothermal works at night, it works in the day, it works whenever you want it to work,” stated Mendisco. He elaborated that external weather conditions, whether a severe snowstorm or heavy rainfall, do not affect geothermal energy production, which remains stable at depths of 500 to 1,000 feet below the Earth’s surface.
