The U.S. Department of Energy recently issued a request for information to gather support for an $84 million program to focus on the development of enhanced geothermal systems pilot demonstration projects.
The request for information is currently seeking input from industry, academia, research labs, government agencies and other stakeholders for enhanced geothermal systems projects included in President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, according to an April 19 news release. DOE is authorized by the Infrastructure Law to sponsor four competitively chosen pilot projects that showcase enhanced geothermal systemss in a variety of geological settings.
“The U.S. has incredible, untapped geothermal potential beneath our very feet, which can be harnessed to meet our energy demands with a round-the-clock, clean renewable resource available across the country,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “Investments within President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are allowing us to incentivize access to that resource nationwide while helping fossil communities and workers leverage existing infrastructure and skills to seamlessly transition to producing clean energy.”
According to the news release, the improved demonstration projects will provide better insight on enhanced geothermal systems and contribute to the growth of geothermal energy. They also may help the DOE fulfill its goal of establishing more than 60 gigawatts of geothermal energy capacity by 2050.
Additionally, the DOE is requesting ideas for the framework of the demonstration projects. This includes determining how DOE's expenditures under the EGS Pilot Demonstrations Program may have the greatest effect on workforce development and environmental and energy justice.
