FEATURES AND MODULES ON ACTUAL

Science_Agents #Features. Allocating a limited budget presents challenges in coordinating data, as proprietary data is often siloed or incomplete, while public data may or may not be useful. Adding to the complexity, no two locations share the same characteristics—they differ in geography, climate, and conditions both above and below the surface.

By adopting a model-first, data-second approach, project planners can pinpoint areas of key sensitivities in the model and pursue the data more strategically from there. 

How does this apply to you? Rather than getting stuck at the outset, project planners can begin by simply putting something on the page. Often, complex scientific knowledge is locked within subject matter expert (SME) tools. ACTUAL enables SMEs to integrate their expertise—such as scientific models like subsurface temperatures from geothermal datasets—into agents that can be easily used by any decision-maker, from project planners to financial teams.

Project planners can evaluate potential locations for geothermal heat pump networks, as seen below in San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, and Los Angeles. Using available data and inference models, these variables help determine both the economic performance and geological viability of each site in a collaborative environment across technical, data, and financial stakeholders.

Synthesizer #Features. Instead of being blocked by data gaps, the key is to make the most of the data at hand—whether it's neatly stored in a data lake, scattered across business silos, or available in public databases. Using our model-first, data-second approach, we leveraged publicly available data within a 500-meter radius, considering population and building characteristics, such as the number of buildings, height, and surface area, as inputs in our science-driven AI model to then calculate energy demand.

When data is unavailable, ACTUAL's "synthesizer" feature fills in the gaps by analyzing nearby buildings' characteristics—such as type (commercial, residential) and physical properties like height, surface area, and density. Our machine learning tool enables subsequent science models to run calculations with confidence, further improved by higher fidelity data and data lakes over time.

Once all inputs are defined, whether sourced from data or synthesized, the energy demand model calculates heating and cooling loads, estimating both the energy drawn from the grid and the energy consumed by geothermal heat pumps during summer and winter.

How does this apply to you? ACTUAL has integrated AI in a science-friendly and transparent manner, enabling project experts to understand how much data has been synthesized for the energy demand model. This allows project planners to evaluate the reliability of the output by reviewing available information and identifying potential sources of error.  The synthesizer acts as a stepping stone for experts to validate risks and confidence levels, enabling them to identify potential geothermal opportunities before committing to extensive data collection.

Best_Fit_Optimizer #Features. Finance teams can also adjust and create the agents, enabling all stakeholders to explore the economic impact of each project. The energy demand results are integrated into financial models, which factor in the number of customers within the radius, system costs, monthly membership fees, and electric rates. Project planners can then run financial models to evaluate metrics such as IRR and savings from reduced gas expenditures.

ACTUAL’s real-time “optimizer” assists financial planners in the initial phase of narrowing down options by comparing selected sites against key financial metrics, such as hurdle rates—the minimum acceptable rate of return—and payback periods. This helps ensure that only projects meeting these benchmarks move forward.

Best-fit Optimizer: Select potential locations → Optimize financial parameters across sites

How does this apply to you? Large-scale capital plans demand cross-functional communication, and developing a plan that addresses all organizational needs can be time-consuming. ACTUAL’s best-fit optimizer streamlines this process by considering budget priorities and handling the initial phase of plan sequencing. Rather than repeatedly running financial models for multiple sites, financial teams can focus resources on specific locations that meet required financial constraints.

Geothermal_Map #Module. Similar to the challenges found in deploying geothermal heat pumps, large geothermal energy projects face parallel challenges, requiring a deeper understanding of geological factors and economic performance to meet growing energy demand. How does this affect you?

• Utilities companies need to identify opportunities for networked geothermal systems in areas where the grid is overwhelmed, and renewable energy sources alone may not meet the growing demand driven by population growth and EV charging networks. 

• Real estate developers need to partner with geothermal experts to take advantage of tax incentives from the IRA and federal funding from energy efficiency grant programs. By implementing geothermal heat pumps, they can reduce energy consumption and enhance energy efficiency as the grid shifts away from traditional energy sources.

• Data centers need to identify potential locations and alternative power sources that align with their energy demands. Over the past year, major tech companies have been actively seeking alternative energy solutions to support their energy-intensive operations amid increasing grid challenges. 

• Policymakers need to implement tax incentives and policies that promote the growth of geothermal energy and enhance funding and research initiatives. Such measures have been key to the recent resurgence in the geothermal industry.

With its low environmental and climate impact, geothermal energy holds significant potential to meet growing energy demands. In high-stakes, multi-million dollar capital projects, it's almost impossible to have all the answers from the start. But with science-based technology tools in your toolkit, you can get the ball rolling and keep your project on track.