The US Department of Energy announced the selection of six projects eligible to receive up to $31 million to advance geothermal energy throughout the country.
The selected projects will advance the development of enhanced geothermal systems and showcase the potential of reservoir thermal energy storage to lower industrial energy demands.
This initiative supports the Department of Energy’s Enhanced Geothermal Shot objective of cutting the cost of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) by 90% by 2035.
It also supports the Industrial Heat Shot target to create cost-effective industrial heat decarbonization technologies that reduce emissions by at least 85% by 2035.
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“Expanding the use of new and innovative geothermal technologies will allow the United States to continue pushing forward into the frontier of the clean energy revolution by using the heat beneath our feet,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.
She added, “These projects help achieve President Biden’s emissions reduction goals, strengthen U.S. competitiveness in this sector, and expand the types of clean and cost-effective energy solutions for American homes, businesses, and industry.”
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Geothermal resources presently contribute approximately four gigawatts of electricity to the U.S. grid.
However, a recent analysis by the Department of Energy suggests that advancing enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) could deliver up to 90 gigawatts of reliable, adaptable power by 2050. This increase could supply enough energy to power over 65 million American homes.
