• CERAWeek
  • March 18 - 22, 2024

Douglas Blankenship

DOE Geothermal Technologies Office

National Laboratory Detailee to the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office

Douglas Blankenship is a National Laboratory detailee to the Geothermal Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) where he is serving as a Senior Technical Advisor.  Prior to his current assignment he managed the Geothermal Research Department at Sandia National Laboratories, a group that focuses on R&D activities related to subsurface operations such as well construction, monitoring, reservoir completions, and operations in geothermal environments. 

Sessions With Douglas Blankenship

Monday, 6 March

  • 10:30am - 11:10am (CST) / 06/mar/2023 04:30 pm - 06/mar/2023 05:10 pm

    Transferring Technologies for Next-gen Geothermal
    While the current technology only taps a very limited amount of the total available potential, geothermal energy could play a crucial role in the energy transition as a source of clean firm power and a significant contributor to heat markets wherever it is available. Several innovative techniques including Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) and Superhot Rock (SHR) are currently being developed to unlock the potential of geothermal energy by artificially creating conditions that allow for the extraction of subsurface heat present at different depths everywhere in the world. Technology providers and startups—from a spectrum ranging from core geothermal technology to core oil and gas exploration and production—are developing solutions to overcome existing technical challenges. This session will focus on the current status of next-generation geothermal technology, its drivers and inhibitors and discuss what needs to be done to accelerate its deployment globally.