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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes |
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Hello,
It’s hard to believe it’s May already; 2024 has been a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of year. In Hawai’i, they say aloha for both hello and goodbye, which feels appropriate as we briskly make our way through another month. Today, I’d like to focus on the “hello”: hello to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Month; hello to deepening partnerships between GTO and the Hawaiian communities; and hello to the Geothermal Rising Conference, which will be upon us on the Big Island in just a few short months.
Despite high energy costs and the presence of geothermal resources—evident in the state’s many volcanoes—Hawai’i currently has just one geothermal plant, the Puna Geothermal Venture, and awareness of geothermal energy in all its forms is low. To increase awareness and understanding of geothermal, GTO is funding the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on efforts to empower the people of Hawai’i through direct community engagement. This work includes establishing a Community Council with members from over a dozen Hawaiian organizations and state agencies, including utilities and industry, academia, and nonprofits. In partnership with the Community Council, NREL and GTO are providing resources like listening sessions, outreach, and educational materials on geothermal.
We know it is imperative, this month and every month, to work cooperatively with local and Indigenous populations and empower them to expand their energy options. By building relationships, providing information, and gathering input from residents and local organizations, we can help communities understand how geothermal can fit their energy needs and what steps it might take to bring geothermal into their homes and businesses.
Speaking of relationship building, GTO is delighted to spotlight new talent in the geothermal field who are bringing fresh ideas to the table. We recently announced the winners of the EnergyTech UP GTO bonus prize and the 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Oklahoma, respectively, for their technical plans to use “the heat beneath our feet” for clean, reliable energy. I am so excited to see the passion and innovative spirit from these future members of the geothermal workforce as we continue to grow our industry. Read about their prize-winning projects in the GTO’s Latest section below.
While it may feel like the days are racing by, one thing is for certain: there’s never been a better time to engage with the Geothermal Technologies Office. Our Quarterly Webinar, on June 13 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET, will highlight many of the amazing upcoming funding opportunity and events that will propel our work forward. I hope to see you there.
Until then, aloha,
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Lauren Boyd
GTO Director
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Trivia Question: What country features a popular resort destination known for its many geothermal “hells”?
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GTO's Latest
 Geothermal Technologies Office Director Lauren Boyd speaks on the “Geothermal: how big is it going to get?” panel at CERAWeek 2024.
CERAWeek 2024 Is a Big Win for Geothermal
It was all eyes on geothermal at CERAWeek, the “Super Bowl of the Energy Sector”! Read about the impactful presence of Director Lauren Boyd and the hottest new developments in geothermal technology at CERAWeek 2024.
GTO Awards Student Team at EnergyTech UP 2024
The Geo@MIT student team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was certainly UP to the challenge of the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) 2024, winning GTO’s bonus prize in the National Pitch Event. Geo@MIT took home $22,000 for their project, which presented a well-researched, energy-focused business plan using emerging geothermal district heating and cooling and thermal storage technologies on college campuses. Congratulations to these energetic winners!
Critical Materials Lab Call Due Date Extended
GTO has extended the due date for DOE national laboratories to pursue research and development in U.S. critical material supply chains to May 31, 2024. The Lab Call is divided into three topic areas: analysis on deeper and hotter rocks in the Salton Sea geothermal area; analysis of drilling materials for supercritical conditions; and lithium and critical materials characterization in the Smackover and other Known Geothermal Resource Areas. Visit GTO’s funding page for more information.
Engineers José Aramendiz (left) and César Vivas (right) stand in front of an oil and gas well located next to the Well Construction Technology Center, one of the OU research centers. Photo courtesy of José Aramendiz and César Vivas.
Oil Industry Expertise Paves the Way for Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC) Winners
Two Ph.D. students at the University of Oklahoma (OU) leveraged their years of experience as engineers in oil and gas fields in Colombia to pivot their educational aspirations towards geothermal energy. The transferability of their skills worked in their favor, as both students were part of the OU team that took first place in the 2023 GCC technical track for designing a system of geothermal wells to heat and cool the Osage Nation’s 40,000-square-foot greenhouse in Pawhuska, OK.
FORGE Awardees Complete Contract Negotiations
The Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) successfully completed contract negotiations with nine of the 13 project selectees for the FORGE Solicitation 2022-2, meaning that these projects will soon start their research. These R&D projects managed by Utah FORGE focus on advancing technologies and de-risking tools for enhanced geothermal system (EGS) reservoirs. Topics receiving funding include induced seismic monitoring, high temperature proppants, and field-scale experiments to measure heat-sweep efficiency, among others.
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Headlines Around DOE
$12 Million Available for State-Based Renewable Energy
Applications are open for Round Two of the Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program. Funded through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, R-STEP will support expansion of state-based initiatives that improve renewable energy siting.
DOE Releases Request for Info on Clean Energy Supply Chains
DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) released a request for information (RFI) for industry and other stakeholders to weigh in on supply chain gaps, vulnerabilities, and/or challenges impacting various components of clean energy technologies. RFI responses can be submitted through the online portals or electronically as attachments to MESCanalysis@hq.doe.gov and are due June 10, 2024 at 5:00pm ET.
DOE Announces $100 Million toward Clean Energy Electric Grid
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced its intent to issue multiple funding opportunity announcements for research, development, and demonstration to support better planning and operation of distributed energy resources, including geothermal, with the goal to make clean energy more affordable and accessible.
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Affordable Home Energy Shot™ Summit | June 5, 2024, 10:30a.m.- 4:30 p.m. ET
Join DOE’s inaugural Affordable Home Energy Shot™ Summit to explore innovative solutions for decarbonizing American homes, reducing utility bills, and improving energy affordability nationwide.
Geothermal, Lithium, Hydrogen: New Energy from Subsurface Fluids Conference | June 6‒7, 2024
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Geothermal Rising have joined forces to convene this two-day technical conference in Houston, TX, focusing on geothermal, critical minerals and gases, and the connections among them.
GTO Quarterly Webinar | June 13, 1:30p.m.- 2:30p.m. ET
Join guest host Jen Livermore and GTO leadership as they discuss recent and upcoming events, programs, and funding opportunities. Registration is required.
American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA) 58th U.S. Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium | June 23‒26, 2024
Hosted by the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, the 2024 ARMA Symposium includes technical sessions, workshops, and short courses featuring the latest advances in rock mechanics and geomechanics.
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