ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News

U.S. funding opportunity for downhole tools to enable enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)

Production of electricity using enhanced geothermal systems

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has published a funding opportunity, including an option related for geothermal technology application for downhole tools enabling Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS).

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced its latest funding opportunity before the holidays. The new funding opportunity is designed to support early stage, transformative energy technologies. The “Solicitation on Topics Informing New Program Areas” funding opportunity enables ARPA-E to investigate potential new program areas while highlighting energy challenges of critical interest to American competitiveness and security.

“By design, ARPA-E is an agency that adapts quickly to the changing energy landscape, and this new program will allow us to better capitalize on emerging energy trends,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. “This program will enable the Department to target technologies at the project level, driving innovation and creating new opportunities.”

This Funding Opportunity will remain open for an extended period, and new topics will be released periodically to target emerging technologies and potential new program areas. This first round calls for innovative technologies supporting next generation nuclear energy, high temperature sensors for downhole geothermal exploration, and ultra-durable, lower-energy concrete for infrastructure. ARPA-E will award up to $18 million to project teams spread across standard and small business (SBIR/STTR) solicitations.

DOE believes these funded projects could encourage the development of cross-disciplinary communities around these topic areas, potentially leading to the creation of new projects and programs.

To learn more about the Solicitation on Topics Informing New Program Areas and to apply for funding, visit ARPA-E eXCHANGE.

The following funding opportunity is tied to geothermal energy:

Downhole Tools to Enable Enhanced Geothermal Systems

ARPA-E seeks novel low-cost sensor technologies capable of mitigating risks and lowering costs in EGS development by better characterizing rock formations and fluid enthalpy at depth. Technologies of interest include but are not limited to fiber-optic sensors and enthalpy measurement devices, as well as companion electronics and communications equipment. Successful projects will facilitate reservoir creation and maintenance, reduce unexpected reservoir behavior, and ultimately lower costs associated with EGS. Successful technologies developed for this purpose may also offer side benefits in applications including O&G, subsurface energy/CO2 storage, aerospace and automotive engineering, nuclear energy, and space exploration. More Information via ARPA-E exchange

Source: U.S. DOE

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