• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Salt Lake City Metro News
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News Local News

Tulane Team A National Semi-Finalist In Energy Technology Competition

by NewsReporter
April 12, 2022
in Local News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
tulane-team-a-national-semi-finalist-in-energy-technology-competition
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

This team of students from the Tulane Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences were named national semi-finalists in a U.S. Department of Energy competition. Team members are, front row from left, Kevin Reece and Martin Musila. Back row from left are Samantha Hilburn, Sophie Aber and Carolina Hurtado-Pulido. (Photo by Professor Cynthia Ebinger)

When Samantha Hilburn learned of the U.S. Department of Energy’s inaugural EnergyTech University Prize competition, which challenges multidisciplinary teams to identify an emerging energy technology, there was no question that she wanted to sign up.

A Tulane University senior studying geology, environmental studies and economics, Hilburn is all about coming up with affordable energy alternatives to fossil fuels as a way of reducing carbon emissions and combatting global climate change.

She recruited a team of like-minded students in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, including PhD students Carolina Hurtado-Pulido, James Lopez, Martin Musila, Kevin Reece and Sophie Aber, to enter the geothermal subdivision of the contest

“This was truly a team effort. Each team member brought unique experience and insight to the project, which required impressive collaboration across disciplines, from engineering geosciences to economics.”

Tulane senior Samantha Hilburn

Together they came up with the idea of technology for hydrocarbon-to-geothermal well conversion and carbon capture and storage. The objective is to harness the geothermal energy potential of abandoned hydrocarbon wells across the Gulf Coast to power carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) systems in adjacent, depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

Each team member played a specific yet synergistic role. Reece brought technology implementation objectives into focus and prepared a detailed schematic diagram visualizing the technology in action. Lopez helped draft the section of the business plan assessing Louisiana’s geothermal potential. Hurtado-Pulido mapped abandoned wells eligible for conversion, while Musila ensured that these wells satisfied criteria of viable geothermal resources. Aber and Hilburn assessed the market and economic feasibility of the technology. Hilburn served as captain, refined the final project proposal, and pitched the team’s idea to the judges.

“This was truly a team effort,” Hilburn said. “Each team member brought unique experience and insight to the project, which required impressive collaboration across disciplines, from engineering geosciences to economics.”

Hilburn said the team’s proposed use of existing well infrastructure will drastically reduce CCS startup and operation costs. “It will also mobilize industry workforces already primed to pivot toward a new era of clean energy and climate action, maximizing both economic feasibility and lasting social impact.”

The team was named a national semi-finalist, winning the Geothermal Technologies Office Bonus Prize at the Appalachia and South Regional Competition co-hosted by the University of Arkansas and the University of Kentucky. Although they didn’t achieve their goal of winning the top prize, their standing as a semi-finalist has opened doors. They plan to meet with Entergy representatives about the possibility of implementing their technology locally and regionally.

As part of the competition, the team had to submit a business plan that includes an assessment of its market potential and a strategy for commercialization. Reece said the team hopes to create a new industry that can minimize global climate change while putting displaced Louisiana workers on a new career path in the field of clean energy.

Hilburn said the technology has the potential to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, secure academic and industry partnership and supply the growing carbon offset market with durable geologic carbon storage options.

“Ultimately,” she said, “our coupled hydrocarbon-to-geothermal well conversion and carbon storage technology will impact local, regional, national, and international efforts in the global fight against climate change.”

Read More Here

Salt Lake City Metro News

© 2021 Salt Lake City Metro News

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Salt Lake City Metro News

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT