Dr. Malcolm Ross, a geoscientist and lecturer at Rice University, as well as a Black Swan Detector at the University of Texas, discusses the historical hurdles that geothermal energy has faced and how closed-loop geothermal technology can overcome these challenges to achieve global scalability. Ross explains his journey through academia and the oil and gas industry, primarily how his career at Shell allowed him to utilize his geoscience expertise, such as plate tectonic modelling, and paleogeographic and paleoclimate modelling. Moreover, he explains how these skill sets benefitted him in transitioning to geothermal energy. He explains that he wanted to pursue an industry that had a positive impact while utilizing his geological skills.

Eavor CEO John Redfern emphasized that a current “arms race” taking place in the geothermal industry could make Canada a world leader in geothermal energy production, and how the Alberta Drilling Accelerator (ADA) is key to achieving that. In an interview with DOB Energy, Redfern stressed the importance of meticulous preparation and research to advance collaboration with the ADA. He explained that extensive consultations are being conducted with interested parties, reviewing similar international initiatives, and examining various governance and economic models to ensure the project’s success.

Energy independence was the focal point of an article written by author James Dean, who highlighted the significant potential of Eavor’s Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) in achieving this goal for individuals and communities alike. The article emphasizes that pursuing energy independence by implementing innovative technologies offers multiple benefits. Geothermal energy is significantly cleaner than fossil fuels, emitting 99 percent less carbon dioxide, as geothermal plants do not utilize combustion. Rather, Eavor harnesses heat from the earth by introducing a working fluid into a closed-loop system, where the fluid extracts heat via conduction and transports the energy to the surface for district heating, cooling, and electricity.

Eavor Co-founder Jeanine Vany was a recent guest on the Tech Zero podcast, hosted by Australian Financial Review reporter Peter Ker, to discuss the origin of Eavor and the evolving landscape of geothermal energy. Described as a “big green idea about to become a revenue-generating reality,” Eavor’s technology exemplifies the crucial role of oil and gas expertise in the future success of geothermal energy. These skills have been described as instrumental in driving geothermal into its renaissance.

The International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC) has published an updated set of global heat-flow data. This data, gathered from 1939 to 2024, helps scientists understand the Earth’s internal heat. The data collection is part of a global project that has been improving to ensure high-quality information since May 2021. The 2024 update includes new heat-flow measurements published since April 2023, adding to a total of 91,182 data points from 1,586 scientific publications. Most of these measurements (57 percent) come from land areas, while the rest (43 percent) are from the ocean. The IHFC explains that this comprehensive dataset is crucial for studying the Earth’s heat and contributes to our knowledge of geophysical processes.

Eavor was recently ranked among the top 10 clean technology companies on the Narwhal List of 2024, a report that benchmarks Canadian scaleup companies. Among the 44 companies from Calgary featured on the list, Eavor stood out with its robust 84 percent scaleup rating, surpassing the clean technology sector’s average of 49.2 percent.