Although geothermal energy is a relatively small contributor to the nation’s energy mix, the geothermal energy potential of the United States is substantial, with the added advantage that geothermal energy is a renewable resource that provides baseload energy.
To develop geothermal energy resources and reduce exploration and development risk, advances in subsurface exploration strategies and engineering technologies are required. This, in turn, necessitates access to appropriate geoscientific data sets that support detailed characterization of the subsurface and lead to step-change advances in the conceptual understanding of geothermal systems.
The locations and quality of potential available water resources to support future engineered geothermal systems (EGS) projects is included in the data needed. Currently, no single agency is responsible for updating databases with key geothermal data (e.g., sub-surface temperatures, heat flow, fluid chemistry and rock properties); there is the opportunity for ERP to serve in this capacity.
The ERP also needs to be a leader in updating and improving methods for regional and national-scale geothermal resource assessments. Using these methodologies, the ERP might then maintain up-to-date assessments of the national geothermal resource inventory (for both conventional and EGS resources). These are high-priority needs, and the ERP is suited to meet them. Groups such as the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Geothermal Technologies Office would be among the beneficiaries of the outcomes of this work and may offer opportunities to leverage resources.
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