Geological Aspects of Renewable Energy

Moving to a lower carbon energy system and, over time, displacing fossil fuels with renewable energy will involve new challenges for geologists.

In this talk we will explore these challenges. Below ground geothermal energy is an obvious example: High grade for converting to power, low grade for space heating and shallow for seasonal storage and heat pumping. Underground energy storage, for example hydrogen in salt caverns, may be a more effective and flexible solution than batteries to the challenges of matching renewables' intermittent supply with demand.

Less obviously the siting of renewable energy projects from hydro electric power or storage to wind farms, both onshore and offshore, is based fundamentally on conditions created by geology.

Last but not least, the new resources required to manufacture the energy conversion equipment needed to supply renewable energy on a global scale will place new demands across the periodic table for resources which already is beginning to constrain and shape the commercial solutions.

Event information

The talk will be given twice on the same day, once at 3pm and once at 6pm – please note that if you would like to attend the talks, the 3pm matinees generally have more availability. The talks will be exactly the same in the afternoon and evening.

Entry to the lectures is free to all, but by ticket only. To obtain a ticket please contact Naomi Newbold (naomi.newbold@geolsoc.org.uk) and state whether you would prefer to attend the 3pm or the 6pm lecture.

Programme – 3pm talk
2:30pm Tea & Coffee
3pm Lecture begins
4pm Event ends

Programme – 6pm talk
5:30pm Tea & Coffee
6pm Lecture begins
7pm Short drinks reception
8pm Event ends
 

Speaker

Bruce Levell

Biography

Bruce is a Geologist. He graduated from Oxford University with a D.Phil in Geology in 1978.

He has worked for Shell for 32 years in both operations and research. Operational assignments were in Malaysia, Houston, London, and Oman.
From 2003 to 2008 he was responsible for Global Exploration New Ventures investments in Shell.

In 2008 he was appointed Chief Scientist: Geology for Royal Dutch Shell.

In 2009 he was additionally appointed to his current post: Vice President of Emerging Technologies with responsibility for new technologies for both Upstream and Downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry as well as in the Future Energy domain.

In 2009 he was awarded the Silver Medal of the Petroleum Group of the Geological Society of London.

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