The global energy transition demands clean, abundant, and reliable alternatives to fossil fuels. Geothermal power — the heat of the earth — meets these criteria. Yet its widespread adoption has been hindered by technical and financial barriers, particularly in accessing geothermal resources deep within the earth.
In February 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to create an unusual new institution, called the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE). FORGE is a $218 million field laboratory to conduct hands-on research into “enhanced geothermal systems,” or EGS, a promising form of geothermal power. Using advanced drilling techniques from the shale industry, EGS engineers create underground fractures where water, pumped down from the surface, can gather heat before being drawn back up.
Despite its promise, EGS has yet to achieve broad commercial viability. High initial costs and technical challenges have historically deterred private sector investment, leaving geothermal underfunded compared to other next-generation energy technologies.
Read more from the Institute for Progress here.
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