The growing demand for ground source heat pumps, which use underground temperatures for efficient heating and cooling, could serve 80 million homes by 2050. However, the industry faces a significant shortage of skilled drillers. To address this, the Geothermal Drillers Association was founded by Brock Yordy, a former oil and gas drilling expert. Yordy advocates for localized hiring, training new workers, and transitioning drillers from fossil fuels to geothermal energy. The US Department of Energy projects that ground source heat pumps could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. To achieve this, the industry needs to scale up drilling, which requires specialized skills. Transitioning workers from the oil and gas industry to geothermal could create new jobs and shift the energy infrastructure towards sustainability.
Experienced oil and gas drilling specialist transitions career to harness the potential of geothermal energy.
