The US Department of Energy last week announced up to $20 million for research, development, and demonstration of cutting-edge geothermal technologies that could reduce demand for fossil fuels and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

DOE's objective through this funding opportunity is to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of non-conventional geothermal energy technologies in research areas including low-temperature fluids, geothermal fluids recovered from oil and gas wells, and highly pressurized geothermal fluids.

Funding will be available in the following topic areas:

1. Low-temperature geothermal fluids at temperatures up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (F) or approximately 150 degrees Celsius (C).

2. Geothermal fluids produced from productive, unproductive, or marginal oil and gas wells, mining operations or other hydrocarbon or mineral extraction processes.

3. Highly pressurized or "geopressured" fluid resources that show potential for cost-effective recovery of heat, kinetic energy, and gas.

Potential project proposals might include innovative cooling systems--for example, air-cooled, water-cooled, or hybrid systems--or use innovative working fluids. Other concepts might utilize more efficient heat exchanging materials or maximize of energy output through a combination of electricity generation and direct-heat technologies.

Prospective applicants for this funding opportunity announcement are encouraged begin developing partnerships, formulating ideas, and gathering data for potential applications. The expected close date of this announcement is July 9, 2010.

The complete funding opportunity announcement can be viewed at FedConnect. For more information on these awards, visit DOE's Geothermal Technologies Program website at the link below.

Website: www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/

Reprinted with permission from Sustainable Business