Recap

The conference underscored the importance of collaboration in tackling the dual challenges of energy transition and energy access.

"The two universities also address both urban and rural challenges and working together we are able to build solutions for a broader group of stakeholders," said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, Vice President for Energy and Innovation at the University of Houston.

The partnership between the University of Utah and the University of Houston exemplifies a shared commitment to finding solutions that cater to diverse populations and geographical needs.

The highlight of the conference was the panel discussion focused on Advanced Geothermal that addressed the progress in technology through the efforts of two start-up companies Fervo and Sage that were represented on the panel. The role of Utah’s FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) in advancing technologies and providing scaled testing of new concepts was also highlighted by the panel. The panel moderated by Joe Powell of the University of Houston also included Tim Latimer (CEO of Fervo Energy), Mike Eros (Chief Scientist at Sage), John McLennan and Joseph Moore of Utah FORGE. The panel also highlight gaps and opportunities in technology as well as the challenges in policy and financing to grow the advanced geothermal business

Sriram Srinivasan, Senior Vice President of Global Technology at Halliburton, highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to transform geoscience applications in the energy sector. As geological complexity and data volumes grow, AI is proving crucial for enhancing efficiency and generating insights beyond human capacity.

Srinivasan shared that Halliburton has been deploying AI across various aspects of geosciences—from seismic interpretation to real-time reservoir modeling.

"AI techniques will allow us to really mine this data for heavy insights that might be missed by traditional means," said Srinivasan.

Halliburton's applications of AI include the use of generative networks to fill geological gaps, neural networks for well-logging inversions, and graph networks for real-time reservoir modeling. These advancements not only streamline processes but also yield critical business value by unlocking new insights from massive datasets.

Dr. Scott W. Tinker, Director Emeritus of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, delivered a keynote addressing one of the most pressing issues in energy transition: global energy poverty. With over 60% of the world lacking secure energy, Tinker emphasized the need to balance environmental goals with economic and developmental needs.

“We can’t end poverty without energy,” he stated. “It’s time to power people. It’s time to provide energy access for everyone.”

Tinker’s talk shed light on the trade-offs involved in transitioning to low-emission energy sources, noting that coal and oil remain dominant in many regions despite the growing adoption of solar and wind.

He addressed the high costs of renewable energy in Europe and discussed the limitations of current technology in addressing the needs of the developing world, where a basic appliance like a refrigerator consumes nine times the energy available to an average person in parts of Africa.

Drawing from his experiences in Africa and Vietnam, Tinker highlighted the widening energy poverty gap and advocated for a "radical middle" approach. This approach emphasizes a balanced energy portfolio that includes coal-to-gas transitions, nuclear, and renewables like hydrogen and thorium, which collectively support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

The conference concluded with a consensus on the need for a diversified energy mix that ensures both sustainability and reliability. From Srinivasan’s focus on cutting-edge AI applications in energy exploration to Tinker’s call for accessible, reliable energy worldwide, the discussions highlighted the interconnectedness of technology, policy, and human needs.

Read Recap from the University of Utah