The U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) has announced a $14 million project that will assess the efficacy and scalability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in Pennsylvania. Led by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this will be the first EGS project to be implemented in the eastern United States.
The Pennsylvania EGS project activities will include converting a horizontal shale gas well to geothermal, specifically targeting the Appalachian Utica Shale formation.
The effort will assess optimal well orientations and placements, as well as test various techniques to create the fractures necessary for an enhanced geothermal system. If successful, the project will offer a replicable model that could expand the use of EGS in more locations nationwide.
“The Department of Energy’s investments in enhanced geothermal systems represent a key advancement in our national energy strategy as we explore innovative ways to reach and use geothermal resources beyond what is currently possible,” said Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary of the HGEO.
This follows the second round of funding opportunity for EGS pilot projects, specifically targeting the eastern US, as announced by the US DOE in 2024. Prior to that, the agency had already selected three EGS projects to receive up to $60 million in funding.
Source: US Department of Energy
