NREL publishes 2024 accomplishment report on geothermal research initiatives

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a comprehensive Accomplishment Report detailing updates, current status, and future plans for the group’s several dozen geothermal research initiatives.

The full report, “Advancing Geothermal: Fiscal Year 2024 Accomplishments Report,” can be accessed via this link.

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office’s (GTO) mission to increase geothermal energy deployment through research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologiesthat enhance exploration and production, NREL has led impactful research in geothermal technologies and resources, market acceleration, and grid
integration while also demonstrating leadership in the sector and increasing stakeholder engagement and outreach efforts.

In fiscal year 2024, NREL broadened its research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) portfolio and partnerships with exciting innovations such as next-generation geothermal technologies for power, geothermal energy networks for heating and cooling, subsurface thermal energy storage, well repurposing, and more.

NREL’s Geothermal Research Program is centered around three pillars: Technologies and Resources Research, Market Acceleration Research, and Geothermal Grid Integration Research. The following are just some of the highlighted research initiatives featured on the annual accomplishments report:

• The DErisking Exploration for geothermal Plays in magmatic ENvironments (DEEPEN) project was a multinational research initiatves that seeks ways to derisk exploration for supercritical/superhot geothermal resources. International partners focused on the development of new geophysical and geochemical tools for detection of superhot and supercritical resources in Iceland, while the US team developed derisking methodologies for multiple geothermal targets in magmatic settings.
• The Geothermal Limitless Approach to Drilling Efficiencies (GLADE) project seeks to address the high costs of drilling geothermal wells by evaluating several cutting-edge, high-temperature downhole tools and applying advanced, cloud-based real-time drilling optimization technologies. The goal is to drill two adjacent high-temperature geothermal wells with an increased daily drilling rate of penetration by 25% or more. The first of these wells is scheduled to be drilled by February 2025.
•  The GTO funded the Geothermal Heat Pump Case Study in 2024 to help tackle the misconception that heat pumps are only usable in specific and limited climate conditions. The case study featured 20 successful cases of geothermal heat pump applications across the US. Follow-on work in FY25 will amplify the FY24 project as well as add new case studies to the compilation.
• NREL partnered with multiple DOE offices in FY24 including GTO, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), and others to conduct an analysis to support the DOE “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Next-Generation Geothermal Power” report.

The report also highlights ongoing strategic partnerships of NREL with industry and non-DOE government agencies. A notable example is the US Department of Defense, for which NREL provides technical assistance to support initiatives by several military bases to utilize geothermal for reliable baseload electricity and heating.

Source: NREL via LinkedIn