Doctoral Candidate
Julian Xicara Lopez
Department of Engineering Science & Biomedical Engineering
jxic214@aucklanduni.ac.nz
Julian is a geothermal engineer working at the intersection of industry and research to enhance geothermal resource assessment using geochemical data and modelling.
About
Julian started his geothermal journey in 2006 at Orzunil I, a 24 MW binary power plant in Zunil, Guatemala. In 2012, he was awarded a Nordic Development Fund and UNU-GTP scholarship for a 6-month geothermal training programme in El Salvador. He went on to join Ormat’s first wellfield department as a testing engineer, testing Ormat’s new geothermal wells in Kenya, Guadalupe Island, Honduras, and the USA.
A significant step in his professional career took place in 2016 when he received a New Zealand Aid Scholarship (now the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia and Latin America) to pursue a Master of Science at the University of Auckland. He graduated with First Class Honours for his thesis on numerical modelling of the Amatitlán geothermal system, supervised by Dr John O’Sullivan.
After completing his degree, he was promoted to Resource Engineer and relocated to Reno, Nevada in 2021, contributing to Ormat’s new greenfield developments. In 2022, he joined Cyrq Energy as a Senior Reservoir Engineer, focusing on resource assessment, creating numerical models of the Soda Lake and Lightning Dock geothermal systems, and working to solve issues within the downhole pump fleet.
In 2024, Julian returned to the University of Auckland’s Geothermal Institute to begin a PhD, motivated to learn state-of-the-art geothermal modelling tools. His goal is to ultimately support the development of Guatemala’s geothermal resources and contribute to the global fight against climate change through renewable energy.
Research
Julian’s research focuses on integrating geochemical data into geothermal resources assessment and uncertainty quantification frameworks, with the aim of improving forecasting and model outcomes. His work is a collaboration between industry and academia, spanning six projects – four in Guatemala and Nicaragua, and two in the Unites States. His methods will be tested across both greenfield and mature geothermal systems, covering a range of conditions from medium to high enthalpy, including self-flowing to pump wells. The results are expected to offer valuable insights for both industry and research communities.
Address
L4, 70 Symonds St, Grafton, Auckland
New Zealand