NEDO SV Foresight Seminars: Inventing the Future: Session 11

NEDO Silicon Valley Foresight Seminars: Inventing the Future:

You are cordially invited to an in-person seminar exploring Innovation in Geothermal Energy. This is the 11th Silicon Foresight Seminar Series featuring solutions to advance the goal of a sustainable future with Net Zero emissions by 2050.

~Innovation in Geothermal Energy~

This in-person seminar will explore the cutting-edge technological developments and practical applications of geothermal power for energy generation and district heating (hydrothermal geothermal energy) as well as for hydronic geothermal heat exchange in buildings. As we strive for a more sustainable and greener future, geothermal energy will be an essential component of a low-carbon energy supply. The audience will have an opportunity to network in person to share their thoughts and experiences with peers and to speak in-depth with each panelist after the formal presentation.

Our distinguished panel of experts will present breakthrough technologies for using geothermal resources for generating electricity, providing district heating and for using geothermal hydronics for heating and cooling buildings. Discover innovations in new sources of energy for a more sustainable and greener future.

Date: Monday, March 11, 2024

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Registration and networking begin at 5:00PM)

Location: Plug and Play Tech Center (440 North Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, CA, 94085)

Cost: Free but registration is required

You will have an opportunity to network in person to share your thoughts and experiences with peers and to speak in-depth with each of the panelists after the formal presentation, while enjoying refreshments.

Agenda:

5:00 - 5:30 PM -Registration and Networking

5:30 - 7:00 PM -Program Panel Presentations and Q&A

7:00 - 7:30 PM -Networking (Seminar speakers and attendees only)

Speakers:

Roland Horne, Ph.D., Professor of Energy Science and Engineering, Sr. Fellow, Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford University

Dawn Owens, VP of Project Development & Commercial Markets, Fervo Energy

Michael Chien, Chief of Staff, Bedrock Energy

Eric Solrain, PE, LEED AP, Senior Principal, Mechanical Engineer, Introba

Speakers Bio:

Roland Horne, Ph.D., Professor of Energy Science and Engineering, Sr. Fellow, Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford University

Roland N. Horne is the Thomas Davis Barrow Professor of Earth Sciences and Professor of Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University, and Director of the Stanford Geothermal Program. Currently, he is also Interim Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy. He served on the International Geothermal Association (IGA) Board and was the 2010-2013 President of IGA. He was Technical Program Chairman of the World Geothermal Congress 2005 in Turkey, 2010 in Bali, Melbourne in 2015, and in Iceland in 2020-2021. Roland is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering and an Honorary Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He is also a Fellow of the School of Engineering, University of Tokyo.

Dawn Owens, VP of Project Development & Commercial Markets, Fervo Energy
Dawn Owens is Head of Project Development and Commercial Markets at Fervo Energy and is responsible for project contracting and development. Prior to joining Fervo, Dawn consulted for several fortune 500 energy companies, worked at a California community choice aggregator (East Bay Community Energy), and served as Senior Director of Development for NRG Energy. At NRG, Dawn was awarded the Corporate Sustainability Leadership Award and developed over 800 installed MWs in the western United States, spearheading over $1 billion in investment. Dawn is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University. She earned an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a BA in Economics from New Mexico State University.

About Fervo Energy:

Fervo is leading a wave of ingenuity and technological innovation that is expanding geothermal’s potential, vastly increasing geothermal energy production capabilities, and broadening project viability to previously inaccessible areas of the country. Demand for 24/7 carbon-free energy is soaring as its role in addressing climate change becomes more widely recognized. Power buyers are seeking to bolster reliability, reduce costs, and meet clean energy mandates, corporations are voluntarily establishing 24/7 carbon-free electricity targets, and the U.S. federal government is mandating that federal facilities be powered by carbon free power by 2030. Geothermal is an ideal energy source to meet that demand as well as to complement variable generation sources such as solar and wind. Fervo’s process pumps cold water underground to be heated up by the Earth’s temperature, and brought back to the surface. Modern Organic Rankine Cycle generating technology converts the geothermal energy into electricity in a highly efficient process that emits no carbon or other harmful pollutants. Using this technology, 100% of the water is reinjected back into the ground. As a developer, owner, and operator of next-generation geothermal assets, Fervo aims to have a lasting positive impact on the communities that host their projects. They hold themselves accountable to all stakeholder groups, taking a transparent and collaborative approach to engagement to ensure their mission aligns with what their stakeholders value, as they work towards a decarbonized grid.

Michael Chien, Chief of Staff, Bedrock Energy

Michael Chien is chief of staff of Bedrock Energy, a startup transforming the heating and cooling of buildings using geothermal energy. Bedrock has developed novel drilling and subsurface technologies that enable widespread, affordable, and accessible installations of carbon-free geothermal HVAC. At Bedrock, Michael leads go-to-market research and supports strategic planning and field operations (deployment).

Prior to Bedrock, he was a consultant at Redstone Strategy Group, where he helped large funders, nonprofits, and governments plan, scale, and implement programs across a wide range of social sector topics. Earlier in his career, he developed theses for a sustainability-focused venture capital firm and supported energy startups at New Energy Nexus. Michael holds a BS in environmental economics from UC Berkeley.

About Bedrock Energy:

Bedrock Energy is unlocking geothermal for any real estate in any location. Geothermal has long been the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly way to electrify buildings. Bedrock's novel technology is making geothermal borehole fields affordable, fast, and space-efficient to install, with predictable and reliable performance.. Their mission is to transform the heating & cooling of buildings, using geothermal energy to radically reduce costs for people and the environment. Geothermal systems use ground-source heat pumps to tap into the perfectly ambient temperatures of the ground, thus providing renewable, emission-free heating & cooling for building operations throughout the year. Geothermal heat pumps have the highest efficiency of any HVAC solution, even compared to air-source heat pumps and VRF, and typically save >50% on annual energy and maintenance costs compared to a conventional system.

Eric Solrain, PE, LEED AP, Senior Principal, Mechanical Engineer, Introba

Eric is a mechanical engineer responsible for the procurement, management, and design of building engineering systems with 25 years’ of experience. With a focus on building for occupants and end users and a team approach to executing complex projects, Eric’s work embodies holistic sustainable design and efficient systems, healthy environments, and cost- and maintenance-conscious designs. Eric has led several significant projects, including the largest LEED BD+C v4 NC Platinum-certified project in the world for Google Bay View; the first LEED Platinum-certified retrofit of a historical laboratory building for the California Institute of Technology; the most energy-efficient data center in North America for the National Renewable Energy Lab; and the ILFI-Certified Zero Net Energy office for the Packard Foundation, which was also honored with the prestigious ASHRAE Award for Engineering Excellence. Eric’s projects have received numerous AIA COTE Top 10 and ASHRAE technology awards and he has led projects for such clients as Apple, Pixar, Jet Propulsion Lab, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and various University of California campuses.

About Introba:

Introba is a global team of planners, engineers, and consultants dedicated to transforming the built environment. With more than 1,000 employees in offices across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and Australia, Introba is one of the world’s largest building engineering and consulting firms. They solve clients’ challenges through collaboration, cutting-edge digital solutions, emerging innovation, industry-leading carbon-negative strategies, and a range of specialty services. They develop cost-effective resolutions tailored to the individual needs of their clients, no matter the size or scale. Committed to creating a more resilient world, their problem solvers combine cutting-edge digital solutions with emerging innovations and industry-leading sustainability strategies to transform the built environment. They collaborate with their clients to create living systems that are smart, secure, resilient, adaptable, and connected – spaces that uplift communities, protect the health of the planet, and adapt to meet the demands of the future.

Moderator:

Marianna Grossman, Sr. Consultant, USAsia Venture Partners

Moderator Bio:

Marianna Grossman is Senior Consultant & Advisor on Sustainability, USAsia Venture Partners, and Managing Partner of Minerva Ventures, investing and advising on solutions for a resilient future. Marianna led Sustainable Silicon Valley for seven years, after roles in the automotive, computer, and semiconductor industries. Affiliations include California’s Climate Adaptation Action Plan Technical Advisory Group 2016; Sustainable and Resilient Resources Roundtable; the international Balaton Group; Board President, Transportation Choices for Sustainable Communities; Environmental Entrepreneurs. Degrees: BA in Policy Studies, Dartmouth College, and an MBA from Yale School of Management.

About USAsia Venture Partners:

USAsia Venture Partners is a premier Silicon Valley strategic consulting company. They help their clients discover and exploit new opportunities for innovation and market disruption across a wide range of industries, from high tech and cleantech to healthcare and finance. Their consultants are renowned experts in their fields. They conduct market research and due diligence; formulate alliance, marketing, and business development strategies; and partner with the clients to plan and execute for their success.