The Drill Down – Feeling Grateful for Geothermal Energy 🦃 🙌
Estimated read time: 9 minutes
Acting Director’s Note:
Hello,
As we enter the Thanksgiving season, I hope we can all take a moment to reflect on the things that we are most thankful for. I am personally thankful for the great team in the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) I get to work with every day, and I think I can speak for all of GTO when I say we are all so grateful to work within a warm and brilliant geothermal community on some of the greatest scientific challenges of our day.
We are funding dozens of projects in Fiscal Year 2024, but today we are delighted to highlight one that holds a special place in the geothermal community. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) announced the selection of 13 research projects to foster innovation in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Under FORGE’s Solicitation 2022-2, the selectees will receive a combined total of up to $44 million for research that will build on FORGE’s existing EGS work and focus on reproducible solutions and dissemination of technical data. We look forward to seeing these projects move forward and make an impact on the broader community. Congrats, Utah FORGE Team and selectees alike!
Lastly, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to register now for GTO’s next quarterly webinar on November 30 at 1:30 p.m. ET. If there are any topics you would like GTO to address, you’re invited to submit your questions for the Q&A portion in advance at DOE.geothermal@ee.doe.gov.
Let’s turkey trot into this edition of The Drill Down!
Trivia Question: What are the other renewable energy sources harnessed in the "Renewable Energy Corridor" where the Utah FORGE site is located?
GTO's Latest
DOE Announces 13 Projects to Receive up to $44 Million for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Innovations
Only a fraction of the nation’s vast geothermal resource can be harnessed via naturally occurring hot water or steam – tapping into the majority of this resource requires creating humanmade EGS reservoirs. By investing in EGS technology development through FORGE and other initiatives, GTO is working to increase geothermal deployment nationwide, and help meet the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ goal of reducing the cost of EGS by 90% by 2035 and the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal for a net-zero-carbon economy by 2050.
Job Opening for a Recent Graduate: GTO General Engineer/Physical Scientist
Ready to start building a clean energy future with a career in geothermal energy? GTO is looking for a recent graduate in Washington, D.C. or Golden, CO to fill an interdisciplinary position that encompasses two series: the 0801 General Engineer and 1301 Physical Scientist position. Read the full job description and apply by November 23.
The Geothermal INTERN Experience
GTO announced the first cohort of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) and DOE’s Geothermal INTERN opportunity in August, and last month we released the first blog in a series, sharing how each member of the cohort came to pursue an internship experience in the geothermal community.
Just last week, we released the second blog in the series, which explores how thoughtful, generous colleagues and real-world applications of their research have shaped these graduate students during their internships. We also released the announcement of the second round of this opportunity – NSF is actively accepting applications from graduate students who want to create their own internship in the geothermal industry!
Apply now and stay tuned for the third blog in our series about the first cohort!
Students & Faculty Members 🎓: Compete in the 2024 EnergyTech University Prize to Win Cash! 💰
Calling all students and faculty members interested in winning part of $550,000 for developing a business plan that incorporates an up-and-coming energy technology! The Office of Technology Transitions’s EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) is now open. This prize is supported in partnership with GTO and other DOE offices. All ideas leveraging university, national-lab, or student energy technologies are welcome, and GTO encourages geothermal-focused applicants to apply and further the advancement surrounding the geothermal landscape.
This year, EnergyTech UP offers a new track for collegiate faculty members, inviting them to create an implementation plan for integrating or expanding energy technology commercialization or entrepreneurship activities at their home institutions.
For more information, stream the recording of the first informational webinar or register for upcoming live webinars (Nov. 15 and Dec. 5). Then, read the 2024 rules and regulations and sign up to compete by Feb. 1, 2024!
Closed-Loop Geothermal Geothermics Article: Available for a Limited Time
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in collaboration with multiple national labs, universities, and GTO released “Numerical Investigation of Closed-loop Geothermal Systems in Deep Geothermal Reservoirs,” which is available to read for free until December 23, 2023. The article discusses the feasibility of closed-loop geothermal systems for both heating and electricity production, as well as the challenges in thermal and economic performance. PNNL and its research partners also developed the Geothermal Closed-Loop USer Tool in Energy Research, or GeoCLUSTER, which evaluates thermal and economic performance of commercial-scale systems and calculates levelized costs of heat and electricity based on user-defined parameters.
DOE Announces Up to $44 million in Funding for Critical Clean Energy Technologies
DOE is seeking applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Technology Commercialization Fund Core Laboratory Infrastructure for Market Readiness (CLIMR) Lab Call. An estimated $37.7–$44.7 million is expected to be available to fund all projects solicited in this lab call pending FY24 appropriations and program direction. Register and attend an informational webinar on November 15, 2023, from 2–3 pm ET to learn more and ask questions about the lab call.
DOE Provides Funding to Deliver Clean Energy to Communities Across the Nation
In October, DOE awarded $30 million in clean energy funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to 28 state, local, and Tribal governments. Funds will be deployed to advance crucial clean energy and infrastructure upgrades in public and private spaces, including the addition of technologies such as heat pumps, LED lights, solar energy, and more. Several of the selectees plan to use geothermal energy to improve energy efficiency, including the Cascade, Idaho project, which will design a geothermal heating and cooling district to serve the entire city.
Feedback Requested: Nation’s Transmission Grid Roadmap
DOE wants your feedback by November 22 on a draft roadmap to address interconnection challenges. Developed by a broad group of clean energy stakeholders, the roadmap will serve as a practical guide for implementing clean energy interconnection solutions and clearing the existing backlog of solar, wind, and battery projects.
Applications Open for Communities Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP) Round 2
DOE has announced more than $18 million for the second round of Communities LEAP, a technical assistance program that facilitates community-wide economic empowerment through clean energy. This opportunity will support 24–32 low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also either disadvantaged or experiencing direct economic impacts from a shift away from fossil fuels. Register to attend open office hours on November 16 or November 21, and apply by December 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
DOE Releases New Topics for Small Businesses to Advance Geothermal Energy
DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program have announced their FY24 research topics! This year, GTO seeks applications for projects that will accelerate the collection of high-value datasets that justify investments in exploratory drilling. Read more about the topic areas and the SBIR/STTR program.
Stay tuned for the full SBIR solicitation, scheduled for release on December 11, 2023.
Justice Week: GTO’s Spotlight on Community Heating & Cooling Initiative
Earlier this month, several DOE offices presented during DOE’s Justice Week dedicated to empowering each other to move toward a more equitable, clean, and just energy future. Aligning with Justice40 initiatives, GTO’s Alexis McKittrick presented an overview of the Community Geothermal Heating & Cooling Initiative, which funds 11 communities to design community geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Share Your Thoughts on Analysis and Data Tools that Work for You!
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is gathering input on how geothermal stakeholders use data and analysis tools, what frustrations or limitations they see, what data visualizations are most useful, and what’s important when sharing data publicly. Help shape the future of data and analytical tools by responding to the survey.
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