Students Study Geothermal Energy in Iceland
Published: September 23, 2024 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 5 minutes
The race for clean, sustainable energy is underway and Southern Utah University is taking part in the efforts. Chloe Fitzgerald and Parker Tenney, two exceptional students from the Geosciences department, recently embarked on a study abroad in Iceland to learn about geothermal energy.
Taking place at Iceland School of Energy (ISE), a graduate school within Reykjavik University, ISE provides a unique, student-oriented learning environment where industry experience and business knowledge blend with academic research. This combination has led to ISE taking the top spot in sustainable energy education. With an extensive list of collaborators and partners in research, ISE’s geothermal academia is among the premier in the world.
Back in Cedar City, the demand for geothermal energy is steadily increasing, and with the help of students like Tenney and Fitzgerald, progress is being made.
“Utah is a good place to harness geothermal energy and is in fact utilizing it now, but at a small scale, however, research shows that there is room for expansion,” stated Chloe Fitzgerald, a senior majoring in geology and one of the students who went on the trip. “I've always been interested and passionate about renewable energy, as it is the future of our country's and world's energy, and my experience at Southern Utah University has been transformative. They have also been highly supportive in many ways of my dreams and education. This education has greatly affected my ability to contribute as an undergraduate geologist while I was at the Energy Field School program.”
This two-week program presented a deep dive into the world of sustainable energy, offering students a comprehensive understanding of the primary motivations behind the increasing request for sustainable energy, as well as the key factors that impact the ability to satisfy this demand. Through a dynamic combination of classroom learning and on-site visits, students receive an up-close and personal look at the real-world applications of various sustainable energy systems.
“Iceland is on every geologist’s bucket list, and so the opportunity to go while still an undergrad was amazing,” said Tenney, who’s majoring in geosciences. “The trip first interested me because it was an opportunity to go to Iceland for two weeks and look at the rocks and formations there. But it was also a great opportunity to have a taste of graduate school and the energy sector while still at SUU. I would definitely recommend this program to students interested in clean energy. Before the Energy Field School, I didn’t know much about geothermal energy or the energy field; and now I have the skills and experience to talk to professionals in the field and feel comfortable discussing in-depth topics within geothermal energy.”
In addition to Tenney and Fitzgerald’s experience, SUU’s own Department Chair of Geosciences and Associate Professor of Geology Jason Kaiser has also visited Iceland to learn about geothermal energy, and has shared what he learned with the students.
“Professor Kaiser has prepared me by not only introducing many of the concepts central to geothermal energy, but also by helping me foster my interest in the subject,” stated Fitzgerald. “He has always been very supportive of the endeavors of all of his students. I feel, as I do for all of the geology department, that he genuinely cares.”
Tenney also offers his thanks to Professor Kaiser.
“He was the one who told Chloe and I about this opportunity and gave us the green light as students that we were qualified enough to participate in the program. Professor Kaiser also was responsible for all of our education before the trip about the features and formations found on Iceland through his mineralogy and petrology classes. The most meaningful thing I’ve learned from him throughout my time at SUU has been the fact that I need to seize opportunities to learn and grow as soon as they arise.”
Professor Kaiser also commented on Fitzgerald and Tenney’s accomplishments abroad.
“Both Chloe and Parker are amazing students who represent SUU Geosciences very well. They are hardworking, inquisitive, and driven students. I am very happy that they were able to take advantage of this great opportunity. I think geothermal energy is a great resource for the region not only because of the need for renewable energy, but also for the job opportunities. What better place to go to learn about geothermal energy than Iceland!”
Iceland’s use of renewable energy is unique to any other country in the world in that it is one of less than ten countries that is primarily or exclusively powered by renewable energy. Seventy percent of Iceland’s power comes from hydropower, with the other thirty percent is a result of geothermal energy.
Through this experience, the students’ goal was to not only gain a better understanding of how geothermal energy is harvested, but an overall deeper understanding of clean energy and electrical infrastructure in general. With classes that focused on the geology, economics, ethic and legal issues and more surrounding geothermal energy in Iceland and abroad, Tenney and Fitzgerald agree they have a newfound perspective and understanding of geothermal energy and how it can be implemented in Utah.
“This trip was a wonderful experience for Chloe and I,” said Tenney, “I now feel much more qualified as a geologist to work in the geothermal energy field as a direct result of the program.”
As the program is in the process of being renewed for years to come, Tenney and Fitzgerald–along with other geoscientists in Utah–are advocating for a more universal shift to geothermal energy in Utah. Currently, southern Utah is supporting efforts to aid the switch to sustainable energy with a geothermal energy plant in Milford, Utah.
“The best thing that citizens in southern Utah and students at SUU can do is to talk to regulators at city, state, and regional levels about it and be a vocal source of support for the technology. It’s not just about changing laws targeting the energy sector, it’s about getting land grants for geothermal projects, and acquiring state subsidies to compete with the other already-established energy production methods in the state. Geothermal is in a very promising position in the state of Utah, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Tenney stated.
Senior geoscience students with an interest in the trip can speak to Professor Kaiser or Stephen Lisonbee about the program. SUU is grateful and proud of their collaboration with Reykjavik University, and looks forward to more years of learning and scholarly connection. Learn more about SUU’s Geoscience department.
Tags: Student College of Natural Sciences CurStu Geosciences Study Abroad Graduate Programs FacSta Academic
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
4355865400
brookeheath1@suu.edu