Geothermal
Geothermal technology harnesses the Earth’s heat for either power generation (electricity) or directly in the form of heat (direct use). In direct use applications, ground-source heat pumps take advantage of the naturally occurring difference between the above-ground air temperature and the subsurface temperatures to move heat in support of end uses including various industrial applications, agricultural facility needs, district heating systems, aquaculture, food dehydration, and more.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), next-generation geothermal technologies have the technical potential to meet global electricity and heat demand many times over. These new technologies create conditions for geothermal energy in areas where natural exploitation was previously impossible by enhancing the subsurface permeability and increasing fluid flow, which acts as a carrier of the thermal energy. The IEA found that next-generation geothermal could potentially provide affordable heat for about 35% of global industrial demand for heat below 200°C.
What is the RTC doing?
The RTC convenes its Members and Solutions Providers in a Geothermal Working Group to better understand the opportunities geothermal presents as a renewable thermal solution. The RTC also publishes knowledge products and case studies to help industrial end users evaluate geothermal’s potential in specific thermal applications. The RTC aims to increase large thermal energy users’ knowledge and awareness of the applications and opportunities to implement geothermal solutions to decarbonize their thermal applications.
Selected materials and webinars
The Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Map Beta (GeoMap™)
The Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Map (“GeoMap™”) is designed to provide essential data and analytics for assessing the development potential for next-generation geothermal systems worldwide insightful information about geothermal potential to a variety of ecosystem stakeholders. Project InnerSpace is developing GeoMap™ Beta in partnership with Google.
GeoMap™ consists of surface and subsurface modules, a suitability analysis tool, and a Techno-Economic Sensitivity Tool (“TEST”).
The Future of Geothermal Energy
This report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), conducted in collaboration with Project InnerSpace, quantifies the technical and market potential of next-generation geothermal and suggests measures that could help reduce risks, accelerate innovation and increase the bankability of conventional and next-generation projects, allowing for wider geothermal uptake.
The report finds that next-generation geothermal could economically provide heat for about 35% of global industrial demand for heat below 200°C, saving about 750 Mt of CO2 emissions (equivalent to the annual emissions of Canada, the world’s 12th largest emitter).
Direct Utilization of Geothermal Resources
This report by the World Bank Group is a primer on the concept of geothermal direct use (GDU), why countries should explore its potential, with a focus on the utilization of geothermal heat, and how it can deliver economic and social benefits to different sectors of the population. The report is written with energy sector policy makers and subject matter experts in mind but can serve to introduce GDU to all those interested in learning more about it.
The Future of Geothermal Energy in Pennsylvania
This report convened four Pennsylvania universities and multiple practitioners from law, policy, and energy engineering to examine the prospects for geothermal energy to contribute meaningfully to energy utilization in Pennsylvania. The resulting report provides an overview of the scientific basis for geothermal energy use in Pennsylvania, as well as the legal and policy contexts in which geothermal energy might operate.
