DOE Selects 13 Projects for $44 Million in Funding for Innovations in Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Introduction
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of 13 projects to receive funding for innovations in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The recipients will receive a total of $44 million to develop new technologies and techniques that will improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of EGS.
Project Descriptions
The selected projects focus on a range of areas, including drilling and completion technologies, geothermal fluid management, and reservoir characterization. Some of the project highlights include:
Drilling and Completion Technologies
- A project at the University of California, Berkeley, to develop a new drilling system that uses a rotating, autonomous drilling platform to improve drilling speed and reduce costs.
- A project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop a novel drilling mud that reduces drilling time and improves wellbore stability.
Geothermal Fluid Management
- A project at the University of California, San Diego, to develop a new fluid management system that recovers more geothermal fluid and reduces disposal costs.
- A project at the University of Texas at Austin to develop a novel system for managing geothermal fluid influx in production wells.
Reservoir Characterization
- A project at the University of Minnesota to develop a new seismic imaging technique that better characterizes complex geothermal reservoirs.
- A project at the Stanford University to develop an advanced reservoir modeling system that simulates complex thermal conductivity and permeability.
Project Partnerships and Outcomes
The selected projects will be executed through collaborative partnerships between academia, industry, and government entities. The projects are expected to lead to significant improvements in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of EGS, as well as increased deployment of geothermal energy globally.
Conclusion
The selection of these 13 projects is a significant step forward in the development of EGS technologies. With the support of the DOE, these innovative projects have the potential to transform the geothermal industry and drive the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
FAQs
- What is Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)?
- EGS is a type of geothermal system that uses advanced drilling and well completion techniques to access heat from hot rock formations beneath the Earth’s surface.
- What is the goal of the EGS program?
- The goal of the EGS program is to develop new technologies and techniques that will improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of EGS, enabling wider deployment of geothermal energy globally.
- How much funding is being provided for these projects?
- The DOE is providing $44 million in funding for these 13 projects.
- What is the expected outcome of these projects?
- The expected outcome of these projects is a significant improvement in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of EGS, leading to increased deployment of geothermal energy globally.
