Geothermal

DOE to provide $7 million for studies on geothermal potential

DOE to provide $7 million for studies on geothermal potential
Well core drilling for a geothermal heat pump system. (Credit: Erin Anderson / NREL)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) wants to quantify the potential contribution of geothermal power in supporting the energy transition.

DOE released the $7 million Geothermal Technologies Office’s (GTO) Geothermal Resources’ Value in Implementing Decarbonization (GRID) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which seeks regional grid modeling studies on geothermal.

The GTO GRID FOA aims to quantify the role of geothermal power in a decarbonized grid. This work will aim to address the challenge of grid stability through studies on how geothermal power can support and stabilize the grid as it incorporates higher shares of variable renewable energy sources. Valuation metrics developed under this FOA are meant to provide a deeper understanding of geothermal energy’s economic and reliability benefits, fostering informed decision-making for future energy policies and investments, alongside research on supporting an equitable transition through geothermal deployment.

GTO’s strategic goals for this work are derived from the office’s GeoVision analysis and Multi-Year Program Plan. Through this FOA, GTO intends to fund 1‒14 regional grid modeling studies within specific power pools, joint utilities groups, utility service territories, or Tribal jurisdictions in the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawai’i, or U.S. territories. 

DOE said these studies should use one or more analysis approaches and tools such as capacity expansion modeling, production cost modeling, Loss-of-Load-based analyses, machine learning applications, and/or alternate modeling or market design approaches. 

The FOA has one topic area: “Value of Geothermal Power.” The value of geothermal power can be represented from a few different perspectives based on the current capabilities geothermal already provides or has demonstrated, as well as emerging technology, including: 

  • Firm capacity to support resource adequacy: DOE said the reliability contribution of geothermal power is recognized as increasingly important at greater levels of grid decarbonization due to its high capacity credit. 
  • Flexible geothermal power and ancillary services a) to the grid and/or b) to a deferrable load: The capability of geothermal power to operate flexibly may support grid operators in balancing across an evolving generation supply mix and customer load demand while enhancing energy value. 
  • Integrated value of geothermal power with storage technologies: Hybridization of geothermal power with energy storage and/or variable renewable energy sources may bolster the cumulative diversity benefit while enhancing energy value. 
  • Total system impact of geothermal power to cost of grid decarbonization: Providing a substantial role for geothermal power in near-term deployment of clean energy resources can maximize geothermal power’s system-wide benefits and bolster a pathway to successfully achieving a decarbonized grid and economy. 

The submission deadline is for letters of intent is June 26, 2024, and the deadline for full applications is September 9, 2024. The full request is available here.

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