[4/5] Geologic Hydrogen & Geothermal | Andy Lubershane (Energy Impact Partners)

[4/5] Geologic Hydrogen & Geothermal | Andy Lubershane (Energy Impact Partners)

Author: Hugo Rauch April 10, 2026 Duration: 37:26

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🌊 Drilling for the Future of Energy

Can geologic hydrogen and deep geothermal actually power the world?

We’re joined by Andy Lubershane, Partner at Energy Impact Partners and author of Steel For Fuel.

In this episode, we go deep underground, into geologic hydrogen and geothermal, and unpack what it really takes to unlock planet-scale, zero-carbon energy from beneath our feet.

In our conversation, we covered:

→ Why hydrogen went from “Swiss Army knife” to overhyped, and where it actually matters

→ The brutal economics of green hydrogen vs. gray hydrogen (and why cost still dominates)

→ Geologic hydrogen: drilling for a naturally occurring clean fuel

→ The wild uncertainty: from niche resource to “powering civilization for millennia”

→ Why geothermal today is tiny, and what’s blocking it from scaling globally

→ The real bottleneck: drilling deeper (and why it’s harder than it sounds)

→ Why deep geothermal could outperform fusion, if we solve the engineering

This is episode four of a five part series. Subscribe to receive every episode. 👇



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

Hugo Rauch hosts New Wave, a podcast that lives at the intersection of business ambition and scientific reality. This isn't about distant predictions or abstract science; it's a grounded exploration of the technologies and companies being built right now to address our environmental future. Each episode focuses on the practical journey, dissecting the models, the breakthroughs, and the hard decisions that define the climate tech landscape. You'll hear from founders, researchers, and investors who are actively shaping this space, getting into the specifics of what works, what doesn't, and why. The conversations move beyond hype to examine the tangible mechanics of creating viable solutions, from energy storage and sustainable materials to carbon removal and regenerative agriculture. It’s for anyone who thinks about the climate challenge not just as a crisis, but as a complex and urgent field of innovation. By tuning into this podcast, you gain a clearer understanding of the economic forces and scientific principles driving the next generation of environmental solutions. New Wave connects the dots between the lab, the boardroom, and the impact we need to see in the world, offering a sober yet optimistic look at where substantive progress is truly being made.
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