Geothermal Energy

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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

What is Geothermal Energy?

The Sierra Nevada Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop for a cooling tower array at the ORMAT Mammoth Geothermal Power Plant in Central California.

Geothermal energy is heat extracted from the Earth. Wells can be drilled into the earth to tap this energy. In the form of naturally occurring steam and hot water, geothermal energy can be drawn to the surface to generate electricity, heat and cool buildings, and serve other uses.[1][2]

Geothermal fluid temperature should be at least 300°F/149°C, although plants can operate on fluid temperatures as low as 210°F/99°C. However, in the case of Geothermal heat pumps, or GHPs, these systems use the constant temperature of the shallow Earth (40–70°F/4.5–21°C) to provide heating and cooling solutions for buildings wherever the ground can be cost-effectively accessed to depths below seasonal temperature variations.[1][3]

Geothermal is distinct from other renewables such as solar or wind because it is a considered a "baseload" technology, providing electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.[4]

Geothermal on OpenEI

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Geothermal Data Repository
Data Repository

Provides free access to data generated from efforts funded by the Geothermal Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and supporting projects and partnerships.
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GeoBridge
Connecting people to geothermal

GeoBridge provides answers to some of the most pressing questions in geothermal, covering everything from home heat pump installation to careers in geothermal, educational tools, and cost savings opportunities for businesses.
RAPID
Geothermal RAPID Toolkit
Permitting

Navigating the complex system of federal and state regulations and permits can be one of the biggest hurdles geothermal developers face. The Geothermal Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop Toolkit offers a solution.
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GeoVision Scenario Viewer
Deployment Potential

The DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) engaged in a multiyear research collaboration among national laboratories, industry, and academia to examine the potential for geothermal resources to play a key role in the nation's energy future.
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Utah Forge
EGS Technologies

The Utah FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) project began in 2015 to facilitate an environment where scientists and engineers can develop, test, and accelerate breakthroughs in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) technologies and techniques.
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Utah Forge on GDR
EGS Data

Access Utah FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) data and visualizations.

Department of Energy Organizations

Geothermal Resources

NREL Geothermal Favorability Map

In 2019, scientists evaluated the potential for geothermal energy to contribute to America’s energy future, the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) initiated the GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet[5], analysis—a detailed research effort to explore opportunities for increased geothermal deployment and the pathways necessary to overcome technical and non-technical barriers to such deployment.

Visit the Geothermal Resources page to view other resource assessments that have been conducted.

See a list and map of international Geothermal Areas and Geothermal Regions.

Study Identified Hydrothermal Undiscovered Hydrothermal Near-Field EGS Deep EGS
GeoVision Technology Improvement (TI) Scenario 5,128 23,038 1,443 4,248,879
Enhanced Geothermal Shot 5,128 23,038 28,166 7,469,002

[6]

Geothermal Technologies

Steam billows from separators at Los Azufres Geothermal Complex near Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
Hydrothermal Systems
Hydrothermal Systems use coincident heat, water, and permeable rock at shallow depths (typically <5 km) to produce electricity.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are human-engineered hydrothermal reservoirs developed for commercial use.
Co-Produced Geothermal Systems
Low-temperature water can be used to provide heat for a number of applications, such as pools, spas, greenhouses, fish farms, and mining operations.
Geothermal Heat Pump Systems
Geothermal Heat Pumps are used for space heating and cooling in buildings, using the earth as a heat source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer.