US Department of Energy to Invest $90 Million in Advanced Geothermal Research
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06.26.08
Geothermal Energy Deserves More Attention
Like wave-power, geothermal energy lives in the shadow of its two more popular brothers, solar power and wind power. The US Department of Energy (DOE) is trying to do something about that with a $90 million "Funding Opportunity Announcement"; it plans to award 26 grants to both industry and academia. "A minimum of 20% private sector cost share is required for R&D projects and funding for the awards is subject to Congressional appropriations."
Hopefully, this new investment by the DOE, along with private sector funds, will help geothermal (not to be confused with residential ground source heat pumps) move forward into the spotlight. As we said before, geothermal energy has a huge potential and could be used alongside intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar.
Geothermal Funding Details
"Funding is available at US $10.5 million for fiscal year (FY) 2008. Subject to annual Congressional appropriations, up to an additional US $30 million is expected to be available for awards in FY 2009 and US $49.5 million in FY 2010."
Applications for this funding opportunity are due on or before August 12, 2008.
Does Geothermal Research Benefit from the Oil Industry?
On top of investments into geothermal, we have to note that - ironically - a lot of techniques from the oil industry (drilling, geological surveys) can be useful in that field. The problem is a shortage of competent geologists and engineers, as well as specialized equipment.
Geothermal Energy
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Geothermal Energy: Renewables' Poor Cousin
Is Geothermal Energy the Way of the Future?
Jargon Watch: Geothermal vs Ground Source Heat Pump
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Yeah, why don't we see much geothermal stuff going into production? It's certainly a very elegant way to produce power.
A travesty, like McCain's 300 million dollar prize for a better battery.
We spent trillions on Iraq, have a 700 BILLION dollar "defense" budget, energy prices are a trillion-dollar drag on the economy... and yet we're are supposed to be happy when we spend the equivalent of 0.01% of our defense budget on some form of alternative energy research?
What's wrong with this picture?
I'm as anti-war and anti-imperialist as the next guy, but being against investments into clean energy because we waste money on weapons and 700 military bases around the globe doesn't make sense.
You can be FOR one and AGAINST the other at the same time.
Besides, most of the real investments will come from the private sector. Government is just an extra boost.
@Anonymous
Um, I think Michael was saying that we should be investing MORE money considering how much we spend on defence, not less.
Something big has changed. Last winter DOE was talking about eviscerating all support for geothermal research. Which elected official running in 2008 has the golden fleece award due?
This is long overdue.
It is not well explained here but by drilling miles-deep holes, we can eliminate any reliance on hot-springs and provide baseload power; 24/7/52. Geothermal and nuclear are the only realistic sources of the massive amounts of reliable baseload power needed to replace fossil fuels.
Here is a very educational 3 pg. pdf demonstrating how Australia is drilling 3 miles deep wells to use for geothermal electricity production.
Australia gets a headstart on new approach to geothermal http://www.geodynamics.com.au/IRM/Company/ShowPage.aspx?CPID=1403
The deep drilling technology (up to 6 miles) exists but has a lot of room for improvement and gets a little better with each completed project.
There is no reason we couldn't be doing this here in the U.S.
U.S. Potential for Enhanced Geothermal Systems http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48330
MIT has done extensive research and determined that we could ultimately power a huge chunk of the planet's needs
Abundant Power from Universal Geothermal energy
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/17236/page1/
Is a good idea but for all you Greenie fasicst out there OIL is still KING....it will take time for alt energy but till then I don't see a car using geothermal as a fuel...*L*
Technically, your car does not run on oil either. It runs on gasoline refined from oil. In the same manner, cars can run on electricity refined from geothermal.
Or with PHEV, we can also use synthetic fuels made with electricity derived from geothermal or (even better) those "intermittent sources" so that we can still avoid inherent range limits in our vehicles.
Synthetic fuels can mean hydrogen or any imaginable hydrocarbon. All can be made from water and atmospheric CO2 if you have a lean energy source.