US Energy Department Picks 21 Geothermal Projects for $99 Million

The US Department of Energy said on Monday it has selected 21 projects to receive up to $99 million in funding aimed at advancing geothermal energy development, a source of round-the-clock power that has drawn growing interest from investors and energy companies.

The awards will support field-scale testing of next-generation geothermal technologies as well as exploration drilling intended to identify promising geothermal resources across the United States.

Five of the selected projects will carry out field tests of enhanced geothermal systems, or EGS, technologies. The remaining 16 will focus on exploration drilling.

Among the recipients is Fervo Energy, which was chosen for two projects: an enhanced geothermal systems demonstration in Idaho and exploration drilling in Nevada. Other companies selected include Quaise Energy, Zanskar Geothermal, XGS Energy and Invenergy.

Data produced through the projects will be made publicly available through the department's Geothermal Data Repository, with the aim of guiding future technology development and resource exploration.

"These projects will empower American innovators to unlock the tremendous geothermal resources beneath our feet," DOE Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit said in a statement. He added that the department is advancing next-generation geothermal technologies that can lower costs, strengthen American energy dominance and turn more domestic geothermal resources into reliable and affordable power.

Geothermal energy has emerged as one of the fastest-growing areas of the US power sector as developers adapt oil-and-gas drilling techniques to tap underground heat for electricity generation.