# Going deep on next-gen geothermal

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-06-27
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-06-27-going-deep-on-next-gen-geothermal

## Summary

Dr. Roland Horne, a professor of earth sciences at Stanford University and leader of its geothermal program, discusses the three main pathways for next-generation geothermal: Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), closed-loop systems, and super-deep geothermal. He explains how EGS, pioneered by companies like Fervo Energy, leverages oil and gas fracking techniques to create permeability in hot rock, potentially making geothermal viable across half of the United States. Horne also details the economic and technical challenges of closed-loop and super-deep technologies, emphasizing that advances in drilling efficiency, such as batch drilling and PDC bits, are critical to lowering costs and accelerating project timelines.

## Chapters

- [1:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-06-27-going-deep-on-next-gen-geothermal#t=110) Introduction and Conventional Geothermal Challenges
- [11:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-06-27-going-deep-on-next-gen-geothermal#t=690) Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Fervo Energy
- [19:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-06-27-going-deep-on-next-gen-geothermal#t=1175) Closed-Loop Geothermal Technology
- [23:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-06-27-going-deep-on-next-gen-geothermal#t=1398) Super-Deep and Super-Critical Geothermal
- [31:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-06-27-going-deep-on-next-gen-geothermal#t=1868) Drilling Innovations and Future Timeline

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fervo Energy (company)
- Stanford University (company)
- Los Alamos National Lab (company)
- Shell (company)
- PDC bits (tool)
- IDDP-2 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [224. Geothermal Could Save the Grid. So Why’s No One Talking About It?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-07-15-224-geothermal-could-save-the-grid-so-whys-no-one-talking-about-it) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [The Future of Geothermal Energy Generation with Carlos Araque, CEO & Co-founder of Quaise](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-07-21-the-future-of-geothermal-energy-generation-with-carlos-araque-ceo-co-founder-of) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [HIBT Lab! Quaise Energy: Carlos Araque](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-08-04-hibt-lab-quaise-energy-carlos-araque) (How I Built This)
- [How AI Is Unlocking Geothermal Power at Scale with Joel Edwards](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-02-19-how-ai-is-unlocking-geothermal-power-at-scale-with-joel-edwards) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The Geothermal Breakthrough: Heating Homes Smarter, Cheaper, and Cleaner with Dan Yates](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-01-08-the-geothermal-breakthrough-heating-homes-smarter-cheaper-and-cleaner-with-dan-y) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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