Meeting Information

Firm, Flexible, and Carbon-Free: Geothermal and Nuclear Pathways for the Modern Grid

 

July 21, 2026
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM
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University of Utah INSCC building Auditorium (110)
155 S 1452 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Firm, Flexible, and Carbon-Free: Geothermal and Nuclear Pathways for the Modern Grid

Join the Utah Association of Energy Engineers for a special dual-presentation meeting featuring two Ph.D. students from the University of Utah’s AEE student branch and U-CREW. This session will highlight emerging approaches to firm, low-carbon energy, with presentations on flexible geothermal dispatch and advanced nuclear power.

Together, these talks will explore how next-generation energy technologies may support reliability, flexibility, and decarbonization in Utah and beyond.

Lunch will be provided from 11:45 to 12:15 in the lobby outside the auditorium and presentations begin at 12:15 in the auditorium.

Presenter: Bella Hoyer - Chemical Engineering PhD Student, University of Utah

Bio:
Bella Hoyer is a first-year Ph.D. student in chemical engineering at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on modeling and optimizing the integration of geothermal energy into the U.S. grid. In addition to her role as a researcher, she also works as an energy consultant for the Utah Center for Renewables, Efficiency, and Workforce (U-CREW). Bella serves as the vice president of the Association of Energy Engineers student branch at the University of Utah.

Presentation Summary:
Geothermal energy has long been valued for its always-on, reliable power generation. However, as the grid now incorporates more variable renewable energies like wind and solar, operating geothermal as only a baseload resource may be limiting its value to the grid. This session will introduce the concept of flexible geothermal dispatch, where pairing geothermal energy with in- reservoir energy storage allows the reservoir to act like a battery. The presentation will also explore how national-scale energy modeling is used to examine when and where flexible geothermal becomes economically competitive, and what this could mean for the future of geothermal energy.


Presenter: Alex Cutler - Chemical Engineering PhD Student, University of Utah

Bio:
Alex Cutler is a graduate research assistant and assistant student center lead at the U-CREW. He received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from BYU and is currently a first-year PhD student at the University of Utah. At U-CREW, he leads teams of students conducting industrial and commercial energy efficiency assessments around Utah. Alex has researched nuclear energy systems through thermal hydraulics, core neutronics, and systems-level process simulations. He also has experience through various internships across Utah's energy and ceramics manufacturing sectors. Alex serves as the treasurer for the AEE UofU student branch.
 
Presentation Summary:
Nuclear power is gaining attention as a potential source of large-scale and carbon-free energy. In 2025, Utah signed an MOU with TerraPower to explore siting their Natrium sodium fast reactor within the state. This technology is building momentum as the first Natrium reactor began construction in Kemmerer, Wyoming earlier this year—the first utility-scale advanced nuclear reactor to be built in the United States. This presentation will explore the role of nuclear energy in a modern grid and evaluate how the Natrium reactor design seeks to bridge the gap between traditional nuclear power plants and crucial energy challenges. 



Parking:
Parking is reserved on the 2nd floor of the Northwest Garage - lot 38 (see map below).