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I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a joyous ringing in of the new year. As we close out the previous year, it is important to reflect. The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) was hard at work in 2024, supporting the research, development, and demonstration of geothermal energy through multiple avenues: wellbore construction and GRID were just two of our multiple funding opportunities, GTO-funded research made numerous breakthroughs, including in hidden systems and microseismicity connections, we kicked off our exciting GEODE initiative, and people nationwide were active in the geothermal community in programs like Utah FORGE in Beaver County and our Geothermal INTERN opportunity. The previous year was filled to the brim with exciting opportunities, projects, and initiatives-and we thank you all for being part of it.
Even as we reflect on accomplishments from 2024, we’re looking ahead to the endless opportunities before us. In 2025, the GTO team will continue working diligently to support geothermal advancements and access while championing American innovation and supporting U.S. energy needs. We are only halfway through January and things are already heating up! Make sure to read the just-published Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Geothermal Heating and Cooling report, highlighting the future of geothermal heating and cooling, and learn more about GTO’s Regional Partnerships for Geothermal Data funding opportunity to support field data collection that can spur more geothermal projects. These are just the start of what we’ll be rolling out; it is sure to be an exciting year!!
I am so grateful to be a part of a community that learns from the accomplishments of the past and embraces the opportunity of the future. Geothermal energy reminds us that is it important to be firm and flexible in our work, striving to explore every avenue of this renewable, reliable, domestic energy resource. Geothermal energy is a never-ending source of potential for all of us. On behalf of GTO, thank you for embracing that potential this past year. I look forward to all the amazing opportunities the heat beneath our feet promises for 2025!
Lauren Boyd
GTO Director
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Trivia Question: Which geothermal site played host to the first U.S. experiments into developing hot dry rock geothermal systems? |
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Geothermal Heating & Cooling Liftoff Report Now Available!
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released its Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Geothermal Heating and Cooling report, highlighting the potential of geothermal energy to support a resilient electricity system while providing cost savings and efficient heating and cooling to households and businesses nationwide. The report paves the way to dramatically expand the domestic geothermal industry while supporting local, affordable heating and cooling technologies. Register to attend the report webinar on January 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
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GTO Announces $19 Million to Address Geothermal Data Gaps
In collaboration with ConnectWerx, a Partnership Intermediary under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) through DOE's Office of Technology Transitions, GTO has opened a $19 million funding opportunity for regional partnerships to support geothermal data collection. The goal is to address data gaps and incentivize and stimulate follow-up geothermal exploration and development. Concept papers are due February 24, and full applications are due April 22. Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply.
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Heating Things Up: GTO’s Superhot Rock Research Breaking New Ground
GTO is investing in research, development, and demonstration to unlock superhot rock resources and bring more U.S. geothermal electricity production online. This work includes Mazama Energy’s at Newberry Volcano in Oregon. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this project will test the feasibility of superhot rock technology to extract and use the heat beneath our feet.
 Mazama’s superhot working site at Newberry Volcano. Photo credit: Mazama Energy
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EERE Spotlights GTO Program Manager
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) published a profile highlighting GTO’s EGS Program Manager Kevin Jones and his impressive career in energy. Kevin started his career in the oil and gas industry but found that many of the skills he acquired through his work were transferable to other energy sectors, especially geothermal technologies. Learn more about his role at GTO and how he champions geothermal energy.
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ORNL Awarded 14 R&D 100 Awards
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) won 14 awards from the R&D 100, including researcher of the year. Often referred to as “The Oscars of Innovation,” the R&D 100 Awards has for the last 60-plus years honored science and technology research and development. The winners were recognized at the organization’s award ceremony November 21, 2024, in Palm Desert, California.
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Headlines Around DOE
New Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Renewable Energy Joins EERE
In December, EERE welcomed Dr. Sydney Lienemann as its new DAS for Renewable Energy. Dr. Lienemann holds a Ph.D. in chemical physics from the University of Colorado Boulder and has over a decade of experience at the intersection of climate, renewable energy, and environmental policy. Some of her career highlights include leading Arctic energy diplomacy at the U.S. Department of serving as the deputy cabinet secretary at the New Mexico Environment Department.
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DOE Selects Projects to
DOE has and the communities they serve improve resilience and reduce costs. These Connected Communities projects include innovations like using building thermal loads as grid assets and grid efficiency initiatives to help communities address growing electric demand and distribution capacity.
DOE Releases New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers
DOE announced the publication of the 2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use. Produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the report outlines the energy use of data centers from 2014 to 2028. The report estimates that data center load growth has tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple by 2028.
NREL Releases 2024 Standard Scenarios
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released the 2024 Standard Scenarios, which offer forward-looking scenarios and modeled futures for the U.S. power sector using a range of energy technologies, including geothermal.
Interagency Study FindsPotential of Renewable Energy on Federal Lands
NREL, in coordination with the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Defense, released a study showing that there is significant renewable energy potential on federal lands. The study is the most comprehensive of its kind and finds that federal lands in the contiguous United States could technically support more than 7,700 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity.
The HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize is Back with Round 2 of the Inspire Track!
With a total prize pool of $600,000, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize supports the development of STEM-focused summer and after-school programs that inspire underrepresented K-12 and community college students to explore energy careers. Applications are open now through February 27. Register for the January 28 webinar to learn more.
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Geothermal Heating and Cooling Liftoff Report Webinar
January 16, 2025, 2:30‒3:30 p.m. ET
January 17, 2025, 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
In the first of GEODE’s webinar series, representatives from RESMAN technology will discuss opportunities provided by tracer technology opportunities provided by tracer technology to optimize completion design and stimulation protocols for EGS at Utah FORGE.
Regional Partnerships for Geothermal Data Objective Strategic Session/Informational Webinar
January 27, 2025, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) Symposium
February 6‒8, 2025, Boston, MA
Geothermal Rising’s TENs Symposium will feature educational sessions and panels focused on financing, design, implementation, and installation of TENs systems.
Stanford Geothermal Workshop
February 10‒12, 2025, Stanford, CA
GTO staff and research partners will join other researchers from academia and industry at the 50th anniversary of the Stanford Geothermal Workshop to discuss the latest on geothermal exploration and development.
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In Case You Missed It
SBIR/STTR Release Offers Geothermal Research Funding
DOE’s Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program has issued the FY2025 Phase I, Release 2 Notice of Funding Opportunitydue January 14, 2025.
GTO’s December 2024 Quarterly Webinar
GTO’s last 2024 quarterly webinar took place on December 19 and highlighted recent successes, the new GHP PATHs prize, and more. The presentation and transcript are available on the GTO website.
New Report Highlights Opportunities for TENs
The Smart Electric Power Alliance released a new insight brief discussing opportunities for TENs to reduce utility carbon emissions. The report details the role of TENs in carbon reduction, provides use cases, and details considerations for expanded deployment.
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Trivia Answer: Valles Caldera! In 1974, the Los Alamos National Laboratory began experimenting at the Fenton Hill reservoir, just 3km away from the geothermal site. |
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