ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News

US DOE announces funding opportunity for community geothermal projects

A Notice of Intent published by the U.S. Department of Energy alludes to a funding opportunity for community-scale geothermal heating and cooling projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the intent to release funding of USD 13 million to support community-scale geothermal heating and cooling projects. This will be done through the Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

Geothermal district heating and cooling systems that use geothermal energy to provide climate control to buildings has relatively low presence in the United States. The FOA intends to rectify this situation by supporting community coalitions with the the community, workforce, design, analysis, and deployment expertise to implement such systems.

Through geothermal heating and cooling systems, communities can have reduced fossil fuel dependence, better grid stability, and improved environmental quality. The FOA aims to develop these systems through these specific community-scale objectives:

“By enabling communities to design and deploy community-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems, we can expand equitable energy access and foster greater local participation in the energy transition,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman. “Wider adoption of these systems can go a long way in decarbonizing the building and electricity sectors and support the Biden Administration’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.”

The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of new community coalitions. This will allow the interested parties to include information about their expertise that can be used by potential applicants for the intended FOA. Parties interested in being included are encouraged to read the full terms via this link.

Currently, the announcement is only a Notice of Intent (NOI). The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has the discretion on whether to issue the FOA or to release the FOA under significantly different terms.

Source: US Department of Energy

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