USA:

Student Project to Harness Geothermal Water From Abandoned Mines Advances in National Competition (EPA - News Release)

Students at Number 3 Calumet shaft near
Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw School (Courtesy MTU).

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the winning P3 student teams for pioneering projects to solve environmental problems. A team from Michigan is recognized for a project using geothermal energy.

Since 2004, the P3 Program has provided funding to student teams in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, committing over $10 million to cutting-edge, sustainable projects designed by university students. Projects from this year’s teams include a project to harness geothermal water from abandoned mines.

Funding for the P3 projects is divided into two phases. In the first phase, student teams submit a proposal for a project, and if they are selected, they compete with other Phase I winners at the National Sustainable Design Expo in Washington, D.C. At the Expo, teams compete for Phase II funding of up to $75,000. This is the 11th year for the EPA P3 Program.

A team from Michigan Technological University has been chosen in Phase I for their project: Developing a Guide for Harnessing Low-grade Geothermal Energy from Minewater for Heating and Cooling Buildings. The goal of this project is evaluate the technical and social feasibility of tapping water in abandoned mines for geothermal heating and cooling. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are regarded as the most efficient and an environmentally benign alternative to burning fossil fuels, which emit air pollution and contribute to climate change.

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