The US Department of Energy (DOE) has reportedly announced the rollout of a $12 million fund for seven research projects to augment the commercialization of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which are man-made reservoirs that generate renewable, clean energy.

According to reports, the development of EGS might help the United States increase its geothermal energy capabilities and expand the usage of geothermal energy to new locations across the country.

The chosen projects are supposedly a part of DOE's attempts to deploy innovative solutions that will fulfil the Biden-Harris Administration objectives of a carbon-free grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The United States Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, stated that digging into geothermal energy is a vital part of the agency’s plan to diversify and expand the clean energy market in the United States. Geothermal energy is a reliable and clean energy source that lies beneath the nation's feet and is available in every corner of the country.

According to Granholm, the ground-breaking solutions the DOE is anticipating from the selected university research teams and national laboratory will help USA achieve a clean energy economy while creating well-paying jobs and bolstering the nation’s energy workforce.

This money will go toward developing and deploying technologies and techniques that will make geothermal heat production more efficient and cost-effective. DOE will achieve its aim of lowering EGS costs and speeding up the route to widespread commercialization with this funding.

Geothermal power generation may rise 26-fold through technological advancements, with 60 gigawatts of renewable energy deployed by 2050, enough to power up to 60 million households.

The funding breakdown would be as follows:

• Missouri University of Science and Technology: $2.3 million.
• Cornell University: $2.3 million.
• University of New Mexico: $2.0 million.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: $1.7 million.
• Montana State University: $1.5 million.
• Oklahoma State University: $1.0 million.
• Pennsylvania State University, University Park: $1.0 million.

Source credit: https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-12-million-boost-geothermal-energy-research