The Geothermal Technologies Office, within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), announces a Request for Information (RFI) seeking feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to lowering the costs and risks associated with drilling geothermal wells for the purpose of electricity production and opportunities to collaborate on best practices with other drilling industries.Geothermal energy has the potential to provide a significant amount of renewable electric power for the United States. Drilling costs can account for 50% or more of the total capital cost for a geothermal power project. Identifying pathways to reduce these costs is a top priority.
EERE is specifically interested in information on defining major challenges in geothermal drilling and identifying opportunities in research and development and process improvement. This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement. EERE is not accepting applications.
Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to geothermal.comments@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (ET) on January 22, 2018. All submissions received must include “Geothermal Drilling RFI” in the subject of the message.