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Winter is upon us and in Washington, DC, the weather is getting colder, the days are shorter, and the first snow of the season has already arrived. Around the world, communities are gathering together to spread cheer and celebrate.
All year long, however, the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) celebrates the firm, flexible nature of geothermal energy, and how it can provide renewable energy solutions across the nation. This December we are also celebrating “Made in America Month” and the way American innovation stays bright regardless of the season.
Like snowflakes, American innovation can take many shapes: technological advancements, the multifaceted energy workforce, or research teams searching for answers. At GTO, we see American innovation all across the geothermal community. For instance, Minnesota-based startup, Darcy Solutions, leveraged the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) to fund its innovative geothermal heat pump (GHP) technology, which is now being used to create a district heating and cooling system, and GTO’s new Partnerships to Accelerate Training & Hiring for Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP PATHs) Prize focuses on new ways to build a strong GHP workforce. These are just a few ways we are supporting American-made innovation that leads to real-world impact.
As you celebrate the season, don’t miss GTO’s Quarterly Webinar on December 19, 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. ET, where we’ll discuss recent and upcoming events, project updates, and funding opportunities.
Warmest thoughts and season’s greetings,
Lauren Boyd
GTO Director
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Trivia Question: hot spring pool is named after the famous 13th century Icelandic author who wrote about the Norse Pantheon? |
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GTO expects to to facilitate discovery and development of new U.S. geothermal resources through field data collection, including geophysics and exploratory drilling. Facilitating opportunities to find and access geothermal energy resources can help promote use of those resources and create jobs and economic opportunities for communities and Tribal nations.
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Community Geothermal Projects Move to Next Phase
GTO has selected five projects to enter a second phase of its Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling initiative. The project teams will receive a combined total of more than $35 million to install community-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems that they designed in their first phase of work.
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Applications Open for Connected Communities 2.0 Partnership Intermediary Agreement
DOE is seeking innovative solutions to address new load growth from computing, manufacturing, buildings, and transportation through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA). The PIA complements the recent Connected Communities 2.0 funding opportunity to validate technology innovations, including thermal energy networks, at the grid edge. PIA applications are due January 9, 2025.
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Geothermal Team Honored for Creating Domestic Lithium Pathways
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recognized the team responsible for the “Characterizing the Geothermal Lithium Resource at the Salton Sea” report with the 2024 Director’s Award for Societal Impact. The report team helped answer the domestic lithium question by providing the most comprehensive assessment to date of lithium in the Salton Sea geothermal region, one of the largest known lithium deposits in geothermal brines.
 Members of the “Characterizing the Geothermal Lithium Resource at the Salton Sea” report team receive the Directors Award for Societal Impact. Photo Credit: © The Regents of the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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Upcoming Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC) Submission Deadline
Fall 2024 GCC teams must submit deliverables by December 20 at 5 p.m. ET to ensure their chance at prize funding. Check the competition website for details on which deliverables to submit and how.
NREL Launches Geothermal Cultural Exchange
Funded by GTO and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the 2025 Indigenous Geothermal Cultural Exchange permits Native Hawaiians to apply to participate in a cultural exchange program with the Māori people of New Zealand to connect around energy resources, including geothermal energy. Register for the informational webinar on January 7 at 4 p.m. ET to learn more. Applications close January 17.
FORGE Webinar Discusses Surface Resources
In the latest scientific webinar from GTO’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), Dr. Stuart Simmons examines some of the most common surface resources of geothermal energy. The webinar covers the different types of surface thermal expressions, their connection to shallow hydrology and deep hydrothermal fluid flow, and their impact and evolution over time.
WRI Report Provides Next-Gen Insight
The World Resources Institute (WRI) released its “Next-Generation Geothermal: Considerations and Opportunities for Responsible Development” report, which provides an overview of next-generation geothermal systems, including enhanced geothermal, closed-loop, and superhot systems. WRI about the report on December 10, including a panel with GTO’s Kevin Jones.
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Headlines Around DOE
Deploy 24 Retrose
Members of DOE and GTO attended DOE’s Deploy24, where decision makers from across the private and public sectors focused on accelerating the deployment of critical energy technologies and supply chains in the United States. The event featured insights from DOE’s Liftoff Reports, including a keynote about the Next-Generation Geothermal Power Liftoff Report and a sneak peek at the Geothermal Heating and Cooling Liftoff Report.
 GTO team members Timothy Steeves and David Wang attend Deploy24. Photo credit: Alexis McKittrick
Special Report Focuses on the Future of Geothermal
The International Energy Agency a report quantifying the technical and market potential of next-generation geothermal and suggesting measures to help reduce risks, accelerate , and increase bankability of conventional and next-generation geothermal projects.
Accomplishments Report Published
EERE Investment Snapshot Showcases Impressive
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) released the 2024 EERE Investment Snapshot summarizing scientific, technical, and economic achievements by EERE funding in recent years. The 60-page document features data, case studies, and success stories from every program in the EERE portfolio. Featuring nearly 2,000 active EERE projects, it highlights the tangible benefits of energy advancements for Americans.
DOE Selects 37 New Communities to Advance Local Energy
DOE recently announced leaders from 38 entities representing 23 states and Tribal entities to join one of three Clean Energy to Communities peer-learning cohorts. The selected participants will convene for six months to address local energy needs and increase energy resilience by learning from each other and national laboratory experts.
Congratulations to the Community Energy Innovation Prize Winners!
DOE awarded more than $2 million to 19 teams at the Community Energy Innovation Summit for successfully completing the challenge to support innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in underserved communities.
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GTO Quarterly Webinar
December 19, 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. ET
Join GTO's Director, Lauren Boyd, and the leadership team as they discuss exciting updates from , including the GHP PATHs prize and other new and upcoming opportunities. Registration is required.
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In Case You Missed It
GeoBridge We
GTO and NREL recently hosted a webinar on GeoBridge, a new web portal that provides easy access to information on a wide range of geothermal topics. GeoBridge covers everything from home geothermal heat pump (GHP) installation to careers in geothermal, educational tools, and cost savings opportunities for businesses.
Mountain West Renewables
In November, GTO’s Jennifer Livermore joined industry, state and local officials, utilities, and investors for the 2024 Infocast Mountain West Renewables Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jennifer participated in a panel to discuss geothermal expansion in the U.S. West and the grid infrastructure required to support it.
GTO’s Jennifer Livermore with fellow panelists at the 2024 Infocast Mountain West Renewables Summit. Photo credit: Ben Serrurier
GTO Highlights Geothermal at DC EcoWomen Event
DC EcoWomen invited GTO’s Alexis McKittrick to be their December 3rd EcoHour series guest. At the event, Alexis shared her career path and passion for geothermal energy with professionals in a range of environmental fields.
 Alexis McKittrick discusses geothermal power and geothermal heating and cooling technologies with DC EcoWomen in a lively interview-style event. Photo credit: DC EcoWomen
NY-GEO Recordings
Recordings from NY-GEO 2024 in Brooklyn, NY, are now available, including panels with GTO staff discussing the value of GHPs and related federal investments.
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Geothermal in the News
Geothermal Podcast Feature
The Clean Energy Revolution podcast released a new episode featuring GTO’s EGS Program Manager, Kevin Jones. Listen and learn about how geothermal energy and EGS are creating energy opportunities.
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Trivia Answer: Snorralaug! The geothermal pool, located in the village of Reykholt, is named after Snorri Sturluson, who famously wrote The Prose Edda. Used by locals since the 12th century, the pool is possibly the oldest human-used hot spring pool in . |
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