The climate crisis has forced humanity to look for renewable energy opportunities everywhere, including literally underground.
Currently, many blocks of flats are heated with geothermal energy drilled directly from the building plots.
In the future, for example, whole residential areas could be heated with geothermal energy, says Pelayo Barrón, University of Helsinki alum, who is writing a doctoral thesis on geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy stored deep in the Earth’s crust is energy that can be utilised by power plants.
– Geothermal energy is an entirely renewable energy source, in practical terms, heat produced by the Earth, that can be accessed by drilling to depths of several kilometres below the surface of the Earth. In the future, it could be used, for example, to heat an area the size of Helsinki’s city centre, Barrón explains.
He graduated in 2020 from the University of Helsinki's two-year Master’s Programme in Geology and Geophysics.
Prior to that, he had studied geology and completed his master’s degree in Spain, where he was born and raised.
Sudden interest in Finland
Barrón moved to Finland seven years ago. After graduation, he had been looking for work in his field in Spain but it had proved difficult.
Why Finland? The classic question, Barrón laughs. During his job search, he started considering other options and thinking about master’s studies in, for example, the United States or Canada.
However, both those places are far from Spain and in entirely different time zones. Barrón’s family lives in Spain so keeping contact with them would have been challenging.
At the time, he was hoping to find work in the mining industry. When searching the internet, Barrón had noticed job opportunities in the field in Finland.
– What clinched my decision was realising how high the level of education is in Finland. My plan was to complete a master’s degree here while getting to know Finnish society better and acquiring networks in my preferred field.
The plan worked to perfection. Even though finding employment in Spain had been tricky, Barrón found work in his field in Finland already during his master’s studies. For a few years, he worked up north in the mining industry, as he preferred. A year ago he moved back to Helsinki. This spring he re-entered the world of academia, starting work on his doctoral thesis on geothermal energy.
– Conducting research suits not only my interests but also my career plans. My life is now in Finland. I have friends, professional networks and, in addition, a partner in my life who was born in Finland.
People bring opportunities
Studying in the master’s programme at the University of Helsinki taught Barrón a great deal, most importantly two things: first, the significance of networks.
– Vasara, the subject association of geology students, is a wonderful thing. They embraced us international students from the start, provided information and organised activities. It is also where I found many of my current friends.
Professional life requires both networks and degree certificates, Barrón says.
– People who know you also know how good you are at what you’re doing.
The second important lesson Barrón learned the hard way.
– My biggest problem while living here has been my insufficient Finnish language skills. I can survive on English but if I were to start my studies now, I’d definitely immediately start Finnish studies as well. If you truly want to integrate in a new country, you must speak the language – in the same way that people moving to Spain are expected to speak Spanish.