US DOE announces $31M funding for EGS and low-T geothermal projects

The US Department of Energy thru the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) has announced a funding opportunity of up to USD 31 million for projects that support enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) wellbore tools as well as the use of low-temperature geothermal heat for industrial processes. The combined Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks projects in two topic areas:

• Topic Area 1: Funding of up to $23.1 million will support projects to address downhole cement and casing evaluation tools for use in high-temperature and hostile geothermal wellbores (see quick guide here)
• Topic Area 2: Funding of up to $7.9 million will support a demonstration project for low-temperature (<130? C) reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) technology with applications to industrial processes. (see quick guide here)

Letters of intent for this funding opportunity are due on the 1st of March 2024 and full applications must be provided by the 1st of April 2024.

Projects under Topic Area 1 will reduce costs and technical challenges associated with wellbore construction for EGS, which will expand opportunities to tap firm, flexible, domestic geothermal energy nationwide. Projects under Topic Area 2 can help reduce emissions from energy-intensive industrial heating processes and spur RTES technology towards being a long-term, reliable decarbonization technology for U.S. industry and manufacturing.

GTO anticipates making several awards over the course of fiscal years 2024–2028, with individual awards ranging between $100,000 and $10 million. Another funding opportunity had recently been announced under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs for research to improve the collection of high-value data for the purpose of exploratory geothermal drilling.

Source: US Department of Energy