Geothermal Technologies Office

Transcription

1 Geothermal Technologies Office Program Highlights 2017 Dr. Susan Hamm, Director 1

2 Highlight: FORGE FORGE s mission is to accelerate research that helps identify a replicable, commercial pathway to enhanced geothermal FORGE labs in Nevada and Utah continue building toward a sustainable model for enhanced geothermal. 2

3 Highlight: Collab GTO works toward visionary goals supported by innovative research and high-value initiatives Drilling operations including six monitoring wells, one injection well, and one production well commence this month, with stimulation and flow testing in Photo: Tim Kneafsey (LBNL) 3

4 Highlight: Play Fairway Analysis Our goal is to reduce upfront cost and risk by targeting areas where detailed exploration will most likely be productive Phase III exploration drilling begins early 2018, and will test the ability of a PFA approach to discover new, viable resources. Phase III partners include: Nevada Bureau of Mines / University of Nevada-Reno Utah State University University of Hawaii University of Utah Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Image: University of Nevada-Reno 4

5 Highlight: Deep Direct-Use Feasibility studies are currently underway to extend the reach of geothermal energy into untapped regions of the U.S. Appalachian Basin Illinois Basin Wassuk Range (NV) Columbia River Basalt Group Walker Lake Valley (NV) Texas Gulf Coast Feasibility project leads include: Cornell University National Renewable Energy Laboratory Portland State University Sandia National Laboratories University of Illinois Image: University of Nevada-Reno West Virginia University Energy Institute 5

6 Highlight: Mineral Recovery Coupling mineral extraction with geothermal power provides substantial added value Critical minerals such as lithium, zinc, and manganese are found in some geothermal brines. These rare elements are vital to domestic industries such as electronics, automotive, and aviation. Many critical metals are byproducts of base elements Current activities University of Wyoming EGI/University of Utah Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Four awards = $3.8 million Investigating rare earth element concentration in US oil and gas (produced) and geothermal waters Assessing and characterizing strategic/critical materials in US geothermal and hydrocarbon reservoirs Bioengineering specialized microbes designed to extract rare earth metals from geothermal fluids Demonstrating magnetic nanofluid technology for REE extraction from geothermal brines with essential, wide-ranging uses across multiple domestic industries 6

7 2018: A Glimpse Ahead Subsurface R&D 7

8 The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) works to reduce costs and risks associated with geothermal development by supporting innovative technologies that address key exploration and operational challenges. By advancing the value stream for grid (electricity) production and deep direct use, GTO aims to make geothermal energy a costcompetitive, widely available, geographically diverse component of the national energy mix. 8