Projects
Drilling exploration crew performing initial well logging tests at the Desert Peak site, Nevada, a geothermal demonstration project.
NREL has several R&D and analysis projects in progress and expectations of being able to contribute its capabilities even more broadly in helping DOE achieve its vision of geothermal power being a significant contributor to meeting U.S. energy needs. Drilling exploration crew performing initial well logging tests at the Desert Peak site, Nevada.
Systems Demonstration
DOE's current R&D strategy is focused on proving through demonstration projects the ability to create and maintain viable enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) reservoirs. Much of the program's funding and efforts are directed toward this end and NREL plays a significant role in two areas important to this strategy: the support of solicitation activity and the evaluation of power conversion technologies.
Solicitation Support and Monitoring
NREL supports DOE's EGS field experiment funding opportunities and provides oversight and technical monitoring of field projects, and management of field-related subcontracts. In FY08, $43 million dollars were awarded by DOE for systems demonstration field projects. NREL worked with DOE to develop solicitation strategies, prepare the funding opportunity announcements, and participated in selected industry proposal merit reviews. NREL currently has the responsibility for monitoring several of these projects and related subcontractors.
NREL continues to support the development of site selection criteria and solicitation strategies for EGS field experiments, and participate in merit reviews of industry proposals in response to GTP solicitations as they may occur.
Power Conversion Technology Evaluation
While focusing on demonstrating the viability of EGS technologies, DOE also recognizes that power conversion costs will be a dominant element of the total costs of EGS commercial development and operations. Power conversion technology improvements will be required for the future success of EGS and one of the first steps is to conduct detailed assessments of current power conversion technology and array the spectrum of particular needs for future EGS power systems.
NREL is tasked with this effort, and is evaluating the current status of power conversion technology, which will include an assessment of the R&D requirements needed in this area to support DOE's EGS development goals. This evaluation consists of a detailed assessment of the needs for EGS power conversion and an analysis of the ability of current technologies to meet those needs. Further work in this area is anticipated for the future.
Planning and Decision Support Analysis and Modeling
Strategic and Technical Planning
NREL supports DOE in developing strategic plans integral to guiding research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) efforts in a variety of geothermal energy technologies and systems. Currently, this includes providing technical and analytical support for DOE Geothermal Technologies Program's (GTP) Multi-Year Research, Development and Demonstration Plan 2009-2015, with Program Activities to 2025 and the Geothermal Technologies Program Management and Operations Plan (MYRD&D).
NREL performs short- and long-term planning, particularly facilitating development and production of program objectives, targets, milestones, and decision points. The MYRD&D Plan addresses both the near-term priorities for cost-shared research with industry and field projects for achieving EGS technology readiness for commercialization. In addition, NREL provides crosscutting program management of NREL contributions to GTP, represents GTP at industry conferences and events, and interacts with geothermal stakeholders to help maintain GTP identification of and responsiveness to RD&D needs.
Updating and Revising the Geothermal Electricity Technologies Evaluation Model (GETEM)
GETEM was initially developed as a prototype in 2005 to provide insight as to how R&D could affect the cost of producing geothermal energy. Estimates for costs associated with exploration, well field development, and power plant construction are used with GETEM-generated estimates of operating costs to predict a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The model then allows its user to evaluate how technology improvements could impact those projected power generation costs.
The results from the model helps DOE evaluate potential research pathways, identify areas where research might be most effective, and prioritize sponsored research efforts. Currently, modifications are being made to the model to address limitations that have been identified through the model's application since its initial development. NREL is responsible for this task, while most of the modifications are being made by staff at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
Policy Analysis
NREL is conducting analysis of the impacts of public policy on the development and commercialization of geothermal energy. The project began with a review of current policy to provide a baseline for future evaluation and to develop best practices for maximizing available geothermal resources in the U.S. Using this review as a basis, the project is working to transfer the knowledge of policy impacts to policy- and decision-makers in various jurisdictions.
The focus is divided between policies that maximize federal impacts on technology and project development and those at the state level that maximize individual state interests. To inform policymakers, the project identifies areas ripe for policy development and provides individual guides to the federal and state audiences. The project will result in model policies that will maximize impact on geothermal benefits and will inform policymakers.
Support of the Geothermal Data Center
Analytical reports in recent years have identified access to existing geothermal data as one of the barriers to the development and commercialization of geothermal energy and, in response, DOE now has a funding opportunity announcement in progress to develop a nationwide data center. NREL assisted with developing a solicitation strategy and will provide oversight and technical monitoring of this contract when awarded.
Geothermal Modeling in Energy Market Models
There are many energy market models that have been used to assess the potential of geothermal power and other energy technologies in the U.S., but these models all have two shortcomings that are especially acute for geothermal power:
- their aggregated regional structure precludes the consideration of transmission constraints
- they ignore the many uncertainties in future fuel prices, technology improvements, and policies that will drive the energy sector.
Two new energy market models are evolving that are designed specifically to address renewable energy technologies and NREL is working to improve the representation of geothermal in these and other energy market models. One of these models, the Regional Energy Deployment System model (ReEDS), now exists at NREL for capacity expansion in the U.S. electric sector that explicitly considers transmission issues and contains parameters for more than 350 regions in the U.S. A second model, the Stochastic Energy Deployment System model (SEDS), is under development by a team from six national laboratories led by NREL that explicitly addresses future uncertainties in technology performance and cost, fuel prices, and policies.
A rudimentary representation using supply curves for hydrothermal power is included in each of these two models at present. This project is improving that representation and conducting analysis of geothermal power market potential with the models. Shortly, the work will focus on adding water availability and cost as well as other cooling options to these models. Progress is being made in these areas, with power technologies and resources having been included in ReEDS and SEDS. Inputs are being refined and sensitivity runs conducted to validate the modeling.
