GTO Announces up to $165 million to Expand U.S. Geothermal Energy Deployment
GTO released the GEODE FOA, which will provide $10 million to form a consortium of experts to develop a roadmap for addressing technology and knowledge gaps in geothermal energy, based on best practices used within the oil and gas industry. The GEODE consortium will then use this roadmap to fund up to an additional $155 million in research to address gaps. This funding opportunity supports President Biden’s priorities to deploy clean energy resources to combat climate change, strengthen our energy independence, and create well-paying jobs. Read our FOA quick guide and learn more. Applications for GEODE are due by Oct. 28, 2022.
|
Launching GTO’s ONE-OF-A-KIND Lithium StoryMap
Through a new Lithium StoryMap, GTO unpacks the relationship between geothermal and lithium while exploring why DOE is investing in related research. This interactive resource walks you through the role of lithium in energy production, how it’s currently obtained, and why the Salton Sea region of California may prove to be a key domestic source—with a little help from geothermal energy. As lithium demand continues to grow, geothermal energy may be able to make big contributions to domestic lithium extraction.
Learn more about the role of geothermal and DOE activities related to lithium.
|
FORGE Announces up to $44 Million to Advance Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Last week, Utah FORGE announced up to $44 million for testing and evaluation of new and innovative enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) tools and technologies. Up to 17 awards may be issued under the solicitation to improve drilling, stimulation, flow testing, and reservoir analysis for EGS. Managed by the University of Utah, the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) is DOE’s dedicated field laboratory for developing technologies to create, sustain, and monitor EGS reservoirs. The site uses testing and R&D to help reduce uncertainty and risk for commercial development of EGS technologies. For detailed information about the solicitation, visit the FORGE website. Concept papers are due Oct. 10, 2022.
|
Biden-Harris Administration Launches $675 Million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program to Expand Domestic Critical Materials Supply Chains
The Biden-Harris Administration, through DOE, issued a request for information (RFI) on the development and implementation of a $675 million Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Program. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program will address vulnerabilities in the domestic critical materials supply chain, which are both an economic disadvantage and an impediment to the clean energy transition. Critical materials, which include rare-earth elements, lithium, nickel, and cobalt, are required for manufacturing clean energy technologies like batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels. The Critical Materials Research Program RFI is looking for feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, state and local coalitions, labor unions, tribes, community-based organizations, and others on the structure of these programs, timing and distribution of funds, and selection criteria.
Comments must be received by 5 p.m. ET on Sept. 9, 2022, and can be submitted to CriticalMaterialsProgramRFI@ee.doe.gov.
EPA Announces $11 Million for Technical Assistance Centers to Support Underserved Communities
Earlier this month, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $11 million in initial grant funding to establish Environmental Justice Thriving Community Technical Assistance Centers across the nation. This EPA funding is available under the first year of a partnership with DOE, with future phases of up to 10 multi-year awards for a maximum potential program value of $50 million. The Centers will provide an unprecedented level of support to help ensure that federal resources are equitably distributed and address on-the-ground environmental justice challenges that communities have faced for generations. Learn more about this opportunity.
Geothermal Rising Conference (GRC)
GTO leadership and staff will be attending the GRC from Aug. 28 to 31 in Reno, Nevada, where we look forward to reconnecting in person with the geothermal community after a long hiatus. Swing by GTO’s booth (#318) to meet GTO staff and learn more about our initiatives. We will be sending out a guide this week detailing where to engage with GTO and our partners across the GRC programming. A recap of GTO’s experience at the conference will be provided in the September edition of The Drill Down.
Join EERE for Virtual Career Fairs
This September, invite your networks to join EERE for weekly virtual career fairs. The STEMtember Sessions: Careers in Clean Energy is a networking opportunity during which EERE team members will discuss their diverse roles in renewable power, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, and business operations. You do not need a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) to work in clean energy! Come with questions and learn how to build a clean energy future as a Clean Energy Champion.
Register today:
|
Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF)
Hosted by DOE in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, the GCEAF conference aims to accelerate clean energy innovation and catalyze deployment for the global energy transition. Join Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sept. 21–23 for a 3-day event featuring discussions with energy and science experts from 31 countries, technology demonstrations, and other activities. GTO’s Lauren Boyd and Alexis McKittrick will be moderating panels during the Geothermal Business Forum at the conference on Sept. 22 at 1:15 p.m. ET. Registration is free.
Clean Energy on Mine Land Workshops
Join DOE for three planned workshops to inform the Clean Energy Demonstration Program on Current and Former Mine Land in preparation for a future FOA. Two workshops will be held in the Eastern and Western U.S., and one will be held virtually.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $500 million for demonstrating the technical and economic viability of carrying out clean energy projects on current and former mine land across America. The funding for this program includes up to five clean energy demonstration projects in geographically diverse regions, which can include geothermal technologies, with a goal of replication across the country and the creation of jobs and economic opportunities for current and former mining communities.
- The workshop focusing on the Eastern United States is set for Sept. 20-21 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Knoxville, TN. Register here.
- The workshop focusing on the Western United States is set for Oct. 11-12 at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO. Register here.
- The virtual workshop is set for Oct. 25-26. Register here.
Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment
In July, GTO released the Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment funding opportunity to help reduce domestic energy burdens and fossil fuel dependence. This funding will support community coalitions (community voice, workforce, design/analysis, and deployment expertise) in designing and implementing geothermal heating and cooling systems. If you think your community is ready for geothermal, read our FOA quick guide to learn more. Applications are due Oct. 11, 2022.
|
DOE Releases Justice40 Covered Programs
The Office of Management and Budget recently released a list of DOE programs that are covered by President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, a whole-of-government commitment to securing environmental justice and spurring economic opportunity for disadvantaged communities (DACs). In 2021, President Biden set a goal for 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to DACs that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Check out the list of more than 140 DOE programs identified across 22 DOE offices that are covered by Justice40—including GTO’s Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment initiative.
PIVOT 2022 Announces Winners of the GEO DATATHON
Join us in congratulating Team Naturals from Stanford University! On July 26 at PIVOT 2022, coordinators announced Team Naturals as the winner of the inaugural “Geo Datathon,” organized in partnership with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Gulf Coast Section, the SPE Calgary Section, and the SPE Data Science and Engineering Analytics Technical Section. Datathon participation required student teams to solve a geothermal engineering problem using real field data from the GTO-funded Utah FORGE project. Team Naturals used machine learning methods to create predictive models and generated actionable insights with the data as a means to enhance future geothermal energy production at the FORGE site. PIVOT is a conference series aimed at connecting the oil and gas industry with geothermal research, development, and scaling opportunities. Learn more about PIVOT, and watch the "Geo Datathon" submissions.
10 Years of Industry-Changing Influence: The Geothermal Data Repository
In July, the Geothermal Data Repository celebrated its 10th anniversary. With free access to data from organizations around the world, the Geothermal Data Repository is facilitating geothermal community collaboration, advancing energy equity, and building trust in global data sharing. Learn more about its 10 years of industry-changing influence and read the official NREL-authored report. |
|
 |
The Heat Beneath our Feet. Governor Jared Polis of Colorado started an initiative as part of his role as Chair of the Western Governors Association to examine opportunities for and barriers to increased deployment of geothermal energy technologies for both electricity generation and heating and cooling systems in Western states.
Department of Energy Warms up to Community Geothermal. GTO released $13 million in funding to deploy geothermal energy to communities. The funding will reduce dependence on fossil fuels, offer clean energy solutions, and create local jobs.
U.S. Energy Dept Eyes $165 Million Investment in Geothermal, Oil and Gas Group. GTO’s GEODE initiative will provide funding to form a consortium of experts to develop a roadmap for addressing technology and knowledge gaps in geothermal energy, based on best practices used within the oil and gas industry.
Puna Geothermal Site in Hawaii to Expand Capacity with Repower Project. Going from 38 MW to 46 MW in Phase 1 and 60 MW in Phase 2, the Repower Project aims to increase power production on the Big Island in Hawaii.
Ormat Commences Commercial Operation of the 30MW CD4 Geothermal Project. Ormat’s binary technology to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize will be used by Casa Diablo-IV (“CD4”), the first geothermal power plant built within the California Independent System Operator.
$44M Available From DOE for Innovation in Geothermal Sector. Utah FORGE released up to $44 million for projects to develop and test technology to foster innovation in enhanced geothermal energy system.
Answer: Geothermal energy presents a promising solution. Read our new Lithium StoryMap to explore the relationship between geothermal and lithium.
Did we miss your event or an interesting media piece? Please reach out to us at DOE.Geothermal@ee.doe.gov!
|
