The Drill Down – Celebrate Earth Day with the Power of Geothermal Energy

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Geothermal Technologies Office

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April 19, 2023

The Drill Down – Celebrate Earth Day with the Power of Geothermal Energy


Estimated read time: 6 minutes 

Drill down

Director’s Note: Happy Earth Week! Although this celebration comes only once a year, it’s a year-round observance for our community. I am so proud and honored to work with people advancing technologies that can leave the planet better than how we found it and empower communities to realize a zero-carbon future. Not everyone gets to say that, but we CAN. 

I encourage you to pause and reflect on the important work you do and appreciate the community we have all built. There is so much going on in the headlines, so much on our plates, and piles of things to read. But let’s DIG DEEP, because it’s going to be a big year for geothermal (with many more big years to come).

And there are some big weeks ahead as well. At our next Quarterly Webinar on April 27 at 1:30 p.m. ET, you’ll hear from my colleagues and me about the hottest updates on GTO projects and, as always, we will save time for a Q&A session. Please email us to share any question you want to see addressed during the webinar.

We’re also releasing news about the Community Geothermal and GEODE funding opportunities soon. GTO is thrilled to support this work—from widespread, community-driven adoption of geothermal heating and cooling systems to transitioning oil and gas technology and workforce to the geothermal industry, those two initiatives right there tell you how broad geothermal energy’s possibilities are. Stay tuned for those updates and buckle up!

And as I am sure a few of you have been eagerly awaiting, registration for the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ Summit is officially open! Register now to join us on May 11 for this all-day virtual event, where we’ll discuss the potential for advancing enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and the pathways to achieving the ambitious goal of the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™.

Let’s seize the energy of Spring!

Lauren

Sincerely,

Lauren Boyd

GTO Acting Office Director

Trivia Question: What are two common examples of heat pumps?


GTO's Latest

Earthshot

The Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ Summit | May 11 

On May 11, DOE will hold the virtual Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ Summit to discuss the potential for advancing EGS and the pathways to achieving the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ goal: reducing the cost of EGS by 90%, to $45 per megawatt hour, by 2035. In this full-day event, we’ll address the opportunities in harnessing the heat beneath our feet, how we can integrate societal considerations as a core priority in the growth of the geothermal industry, and how we can ground our ambitions for geothermal and EGS in technology solutions. Register here.

 

S1

Secretary Granholm Visits University of Oklahoma to Discuss the Potential of Geothermal Energy 

On April 7, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm met with Tribal leaders and University of Oklahoma energy experts for a roundtable discussion on how the power and potential of geothermal energy can be harnessed for the benefit of Indigenous communities. Granholm stated, "This is a really exciting conversation for us because of the respect that this administration has (for Native nations), but also the potential within the territory of Tribal nations for clean energy." Read more about the event. 

 


Headlines Around DOE

$450 Million for Clean Energy Projects on Current and Former Mine Lands

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has announced up to $450 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance clean energy demonstration projects, including geothermal, on current and former mine lands.  

Concept papers are due May 11 and full applications are due August 31. Read the full funding opportunity announcement (FOA) and register for the FOA webinar on April 19.

 

$250 Million to Accelerate Heat Pump Manufacturing Across America

While on a tour of the heat-pump system at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C., Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk announced a $250 million funding opportunity to accelerate electric heat pump manufacturing in America. This is the first funding opportunity announcement stemming from DOE’s new authorization, invoked by President Biden last summer, to utilize the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of five key clean energy technologies, including electric heat pumps. Increased use of electric heat pumps, for heating and cooling, will help lower energy costs for more American families and businesses and create healthier indoor spaces through American-made clean energy technologies. Concept papers are due May 19.

 

C2C: Clean Energy to Communities

C2C Peer-Learning Cohorts: Apply by May 8

DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program is now accepting applications for its next set of peer-learning cohorts. Applicants may apply to one (or more) of three cohort topic areas: electric vehicle infrastructure planning and funding, implementing a municipal clean energy procurement strategy, and community inclusion in clean energy planning. Eligible “communities” may include Tribal governments; city, town, or county governments; metropolitan or regional planning organizations; community-based organizations; electric utilities; or other public entities. Applications are due May 8, 2023.

 

Apply to Be a Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship Host Institution

DOE recently launched the second round of its Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship, a unique workforce development program that matches recent graduates and new energy professionals to key energy organizations as a means to advance clean energy solutions. Host institution applications are open now through April 27 to electric public utility commissions, electric cooperatives and municipal utilities, essential energy organizations in Puerto Rico, Tribal utilities, Inter-Tribal councils and other Tribal organizations, and grid operators.

 

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $250 Million for Federal Agencies to Advance Net-Zero Projects and Save Taxpayers Money

DOE announced $250 million in funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help federal agencies implement net-zero building projects and set an example in sustainability as the nation works to transition to clean energy and combat climate change. The funding program, Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies is open to federal government agencies, though they may opt to be supported by their private sector partners when developing applications for potential projects that meet the application requirements. The summer 2023 deadline is May 31 – learn more and apply.

 


FORGE Spotlight

At the Core of Utah FORGE – Expanding Geothermal Literacy

What does investing in renewable energy literacy look like? Utah’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) knows. The FORGE team has visited multiple elementary schools to teach students about geothermal energy and fuel their thinking about a clean energy future. Read about the classroom experiences.

FORGE

In Case You Missed It

New Resources for Understanding Geothermal Energy and Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal

Ever struggled to explain what geothermal energy is or how geothermal heat pumps work in simple terms? GTO’s new resources can help! Dig into these materials, share with others, and raise awareness to help make geothermal a 50-state solution.

 


Looking Ahead

AMC

Annual American-Made Earth Day Event | April 25, 11:30 a.m. ET

The American-Made team is hosting its annual Earth Day Event to celebrate the innovators and entrepreneurs supercharging the clean energy revolution. Register now to hear from key energy industry players, past prize winners sharing their success stories, and more. GTO’s Zachary Frone will provide an update on the Geothermal Geophone Prize and you won’t want to miss Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alejandro Moreno joining the event live!

 

GTO Quarterly Webinar | April 27, 1:30 p.m. ET

Hear about GTO’s latest funding opportunities and project developments, learn more about the upcoming Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ Summit, and participate in Q&A with GTO leadership. You are encouraged to submit questions to DOE.Geothermal@ee.doe.gov prior to the webinar. Register to attend.

 

The Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ Summit | May 11, 10:30 a.m. ET

Join GTO’s all-day virtual summit to discuss the potential for advancing EGS and the pathways to achieving the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ goal. Register to attend.

 

Non-Technical Barriers to Geothermal Development in the Western United States | May 24, 12:00 p.m. MT

Learn about the results from three GTO-funded National Laboratory Reports authored by Idaho National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The reports summarize findings concerning federal-state coordination, state and local environmental management issues (including regulatory and permitting issues), and associated timeline and cost implications. Register to attend


Geothermal in the News 

Wired | The Massive ‘Batteries’ Hidden Beneath Your Feet

CleanTechnia | Underground Water Could Be the Solution to Green Heating & Cooling

The Norman Transcript | Energy Secretary, Second Gentleman Visit OU to Discuss Geothermal Energy Potential

Energy Post | Geothermal’s Full Potential: 24/7 Power Everywhere, Storage, Environmental Mineral Extraction

Think GeoEnergy | Japan Showcases Co-Existence of Hot Springs and Geothermal Power

Think GeoEnergy | U.S. and Japan Sign MOC to Cooperate on Geothermal Energy

ENERGYWIRE | U.S. Heat Pump Production Poised to Rise


Trivia Answer: An air conditioner and a refrigerator are two common examples of heat pumps. Heat pumps can also be used to heat and cool buildings. Check out GTO's fact sheet about geothermal heat pumps.

 

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