GEODE Series - Conversation: The Future of Geothermal Energy and the Workforce to Get There

The GEODE consortium is a catalyst for geothermal innovation that brings together members of the geothermal and oil and gas (O&G) sectors to leverage best practices and knowledge from O&G to help expand the use of geothermal energy. As part of that mission, GEODE is creating venues and events to facilitate the dissemination of geothermal and O&G knowledge. This conversation, hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), is part of a series of webinars and conversations designed for professionals and students entering the workforce who are interested in learning more about the synergies in skills and technologies between geothermal and O&G. The topic of this episode is the geothermal energy workforce of the future. Geothermal is a promising and versatile energy resource with vast, untapped potential for electricity generation, heating, and cooling. New technologies are enabling access to previously untapped resources, while cost reduction and innovative financing models are paving the way for increasing geothermal’s role around the world. O&G and geothermal share around 80% of competences and disciplines globally, including subsurface drilling, completing wells, predicting fluid flows, and managing large-scale projects. All those factors combined can further reduce costs and help tap geothermal resources deeper in the ground. With an eye toward long-term workforce sustainability, this conversation will highlight successful partnerships, regional talent hubs, and cross-sector collaboration as key tools in reducing recruitment friction and scaling the workforce pipeline. It will also examine persistent perception issues and identify how storytelling, education, and industry standards can help reshape geothermal’s public image and career appeal. Speakers: Allen Sinor, Manager, Geothermal Council at The Competency Alliance Rita Esuru Okoroafor, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University Moderator: Diana Acero Allard, Geothermal Researcher at National Renewable Energy Laboratory Geothermal Energy from Oil and Gas Demonstrated Engineering (GEODE) is a consortium led by Project InnerSpace and SPE and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO). Learn more: www.geode.energy