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U.S. DOE seeks application research on geothermal mineral extraction

U.S. DOE seeks application research on geothermal mineral extraction Salton Sea Mud Volcanoes (Source: Flickr, CC, By: Chuck Coker)
Alexander Richter 13 May 2015

Many valuable materials can be extracted from geothermal brines and the US DOE is looking for new ideas to better make use of them.

The DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is seeking input on ideas that encourage geothermal development by exploring innovations in extracting critical materials found in geothermal brines. Geothermal fluids could be a key pathway for supplying a growing domestic demand for these materials, which are predominantly imported today.

On May 11, GTO issued a Request for Information (RFI) to bridge the gap between innovative research in this sector and commercial adoption of geothermal ‘mining’ technologies in three specific arenas. The first category addresses potential approaches that could be adapted from existing extraction processes in oil and gas, mining, and other industries. A second topic explores commercializing concepts and approaches that leverage geothermal and mining methods already in use. Ideas are sought for combined drilling technologies, rock stimulation technologies such as those used in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and mineral extraction technologies currently applied in solution mining. A third category will broaden the knowledge of the existence and concentration of high-value materials in U.S. geothermal fluids or low-temperature process streams from other operations, such as oil and gas production. The information sought may be site-specific mineral content and/or an overall assessment of the U.S. mineral resource base in geothermal and other produced fluids.

As an RFI, this is NOT a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting applications at this time.  Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically as attachments to LowTValidation@hq.doe.gov no later than 5pm ET on Monday, June 8th.

Source: Press Release by the US DOE