| Abstract |
Geothermal energy generation occurs almost exclusively in hydrothermal systems, whereas approximately 90% of the potential geothermal power resource in the United States has been estimated to reside in EGS settings. Enabling EGS development could provide 10 to 100+ GWe or more, and make geothermal energy a significant component of the nation’s renewable energy portfolio. To enable development and deployment of EGS technologies, the U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) has solicited teams to bring multidisciplinary, world class researchers together with industry to find innovative solutions and creative, transformational paths via a new Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) Laboratory. To meet the challenges and drive the solutions for EGS, the Snake River Geothermal Consortium (SRGC), a research partnership focused on advancing geothermal energy, was established. The SRGC is comprised of national laboratories, academic institutions, federal/state agencies, and private industry partners. National laboratory partners include Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which support the full spectrum RD&D on energy technologies. In addition to the national laboratories, six academic institutions are SRGC partners, including the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University, University of Wyoming), University of Utah, and University of Oklahoma; they add diversity of research innovation and network to the broader STEM educational functions and outreach that will be instrumental in helping secure the long term goals for EGS. Also, six private partners participate as SRGC members and bring key perspectives to the research team and provide a context for commercializing the research outcomes; they include Mink GeoHydro, Baker Hughes, Geothermal Resource Group, Chena Power, Campbell Scientific, and US Geothermal. The team also has participants from federal and state agencies, including the USGS, Idaho Department of Water Resources, and the Idaho Geologic Survey. The INL, one of DOE’s largest laboratories (2,300 sq. km (890 sq. mi)), intends to host the FORGE Laboratory within its site on the Eastern Snake River Plain, providing the central physical location for the research. It has dedicated 100 sq. km (39 sq. mi) of land as a Geothermal Resource Research Area (GRRA), and has an established permitting framework for projects such as FORGE. The INL is located on the track of the Yellowstone Hotspot, and deep well data indicate that the GRRA occupies an area of high subsurface temperature, with regional stress conditions and rock mechanical properties favorable for reservoir stimulation. The GRRA also has abundant groundwater resources and water rights for geothermal research, development, and deployment. |