Beneath our feet lies more than just oil and gas; if we dig deep enough, we can harness the Earth’s steady temperature for heating and cooling systems in homes, offices, and data centers.
Currently, many geothermal wells are limited to depths of about 500 feet, a restriction primarily due to the typical drilling equipment utilized in the industry.
“This approach is fairly shallow, necessitating two to three times more land area for effective implementation,” explained Joselyn Lai, co-founder and CEO of Bedrock Energy, during an interview with TechCrunch.
To reduce the land footprint of geothermal energy, Bedrock opts for deeper drilling techniques.
“In regions dominated by cooling needs, drilling can reach depths of 800 to 1,000 feet, significantly improving space efficiency. For heating-dominant areas, we may go as deep as 1,000 to 1,200 feet or more, which doubles space efficiency,” Lai said.
By reducing land requirements, Bedrock focuses on commercial buildings where land is scarce. The company completed its inaugural installations last year at an office in Austin, Texas, and a resort in Utah. For such projects, Lai anticipates that the company will achieve profitability within the next year.
Bedrock is also investigating the application of geothermal cooling in data centers. Last autumn, the startup collaborated with Dominion Energy to explore this possibility.
A significant obstacle is that data centers utilize geothermal energy in a one-directional manner. Given the constant heat generated by servers, data centers would continuously transfer heat into the ground. This distinguishes them from other buildings that balance heating in winter and cooling in summer, resulting in a more stable energy expenditure year-round.
Nevertheless, the prospects look promising, according to Lai. The geothermal environment can significantly influence efficiency: for example, fast-moving groundwater can enhance cooling capabilities. However, the boreholes might need to be spaced farther apart than typical installations, which could escalate overall costs. Bedrock’s analytical approach, gleaned from insights in the oil and gas field, indicates that geothermal could be well-suited for data centers, particularly when integrated with solar farms that require large land areas.
“On a broader scale, geothermal cooling is about twice as efficient as traditional cooling methods using water and air, especially during peak hot periods which often occur in states with high humidity where many data centers are located,” Lai stated.
Another advantage of geothermal energy is its consistent electricity usage. Due to the Earth’s relatively stable temperature, heat pumps that manage the energy exchange with geothermal reservoirs don’t need to adjust drastically for fluctuations in air temperature, unlike air-source heat pumps. This reliability is particularly beneficial for large electricity consumers, such as office buildings and data centers, where utilities often charge more during peak demand times.
Lai expressed confidence in the future of geothermal energy, noting that the company continues to channel investments into expanding operations and research and development, with a particular focus on automation to expedite installations. Recently, Bedrock secured $12 million in Series A funding, led by Titanium Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, and Sustainable Future Ventures, with additional participation from Cantos, Elemental Capital, First Star Ventures, Overture Ventures, Toba Capital, and Wireframe Ventures.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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