Photo of Dr Theo Renaud.

Research Fellow

Dr Théo Renaud

Department of Engineering Science & Biomedical Engineering

theo.renaud@auckland.ac.nz

Théo's main research interest is in geothermal energy, heat transfer and fluid dynamics simulations for commercial and research application for electrical power, heat generation and lithium extraction.

About

Théo is a Research Fellow in the Geothermal Institute and Department of Engineering Science at the University of Auckland.

His main research interest is in geothermal energy, heat transfer and fluid dynamics simulations for commercial and research application for electrical power, heat generation and lithium extraction. Crossing cutting edge knowledge in geosciences is essential to better understand underground processes using Data science, geothermal simulators, tracers, Inverse modelling, Supercritical modelling, Geothermal conceptual models integration and Resource Assessment.

Thanks to past collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he gained deep knowledge in geothermal research and was an active member of the Geothermal Rising (previously Geothermal Research Council) student committee for a year during his PhD.

Théo is a Reservoir Engineer from the National Engineering School of Geology (ENSG), and geologist in France. His PhD dealt with the numerical assessment of the thermal extraction in very high energetic geothermal systems, aiming at investigating new sustainable methods for electricity and heat production.

He investigated numerically the potential of unconventional geothermal methods with closed wellbores in deep geothermal contexts.

He joined the University of Auckland in February 2021 as a Research Fellow, working on various commercial and research projects, and also teaching geothermal modelling.

He is engaging into more developments of sustainable geothermal energy uses and methods for communities and scientists through transdisciplinary approaches and international collaborations.

He is committed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of anyone willing to learn about geothermal and mentoring students in understanding the key processes when creating, calibrating and forecasting using numerical models.

Théo is also interested in sailing and has gained lots of experience of volcanic and geothermal systems around the world, most notably around the Atlantic Ocean and the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

Professional Experience

2021 - Present

Senior Research Fellow

University of Auckland, New Zealand

2016

Hydrogeologist / Hydrogeochemist Intern

BRGM, French Geological Survey, France

Teaching Experience

2024

Trainer – ARGEO-C10 Pre-Conference Short Course (Tanzania)

Geothermal Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Trainer for the two-day pre-conference short course on ‘Geothermal Resource Assessment’.

2023

Coordinator – East Africa Geothermal Facility Online Webinar Series 3

Geothermal Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Coordinated the delivery of online materials, webinars and Q&A sessions on Geothermal Energy (Resource Exploration, Uses and Project Development and Finance) for East African participants. This program was facilitated by the African Geothermal Facility funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Aid Programme in partnership with the African Union Commission and supported by the African Geothermal Centre of Excellence.

2022

Trainer – ARGEO-C9 Pre-Conference Short Course (Djibouti)

Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Trainer for the two-day pre-conference short course on ‘Geothermal Reservoir Engineering’.

Qualifications

2017 - 2020

PhD, Engineering Science

University of Cranfield, UK

2016

Master Degree of Petroleum Geosciences and Reservoir Engineering

University of Lorraine, France

2016

Degree in Reservoir Engineering

National Engineering School of Geology, France

Highlighted Papers

2023

Dobson et al. 2023 Characterizing the Geothermal Lithium Resource at the Salton Sea. United States: N. p., 2023.

2023

Van Driel et al. 2023 Numerical modelling of tracer tests in the Ohaaki geothermal system Proceedings 45th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop 15-17 November, 2023 Auckland, New Zealand ISSN 2703-4275

2023

O’Sullivan et al, 2023 An updated numerical model of the Ohaaki Geothermal field. Proceedings 45th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop 15-17 November, 2023 Auckland, New Zealand ISSN 2703-4275

2021

Renaud et al. 2021. Numerical Analysis of Enhanced Conductive Deep Borehole Heat Exchangers. Sustainability. 13. 6918. 10.3390/su13126918.

2021

Doran et al. 2021. Modelling an unconventional closed-loop deep borehole heat exchanger (DBHE): sensitivity analysis on the Newberry volcanic setting. Geothermal Energy. 9. 10.1186/s40517-021-00185-0.

2020

Renaud et al. 2020. Conjugated Numerical Approach for Modelling DBHE in High Geothermal Gradient Environments. Energies. 13. 6107. 10.3390/en13226107.

2019

Renaud et al. 2019. Numerical simulation of a Deep Borehole Heat Exchanger in the Krafla geothermal system. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 143. 118496. 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118496.

Recent Collaborations

Pertamina Geothermal Energy White Logo
NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Logo

Address

L3, 70 Symonds St, Grafton, Auckland

New Zealand

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Théo Renaud