RFI – Transformative applied sciences for superhot geothermal energy

The U.S. Division of Vitality (US DOE) and the Superior Analysis Initiatives Company–Vitality (ARPA-E) have revealed a Request for Data (RFI) to judge novel approaches to superhot enhanced geothermal energy for producing electrical energy and different makes use of.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted in PDF format to ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 PM Jap Time on the thirtieth of September 2024.

Take be aware that this discover doesn’t represent a funding alternative announcement. The aim of this RFI is solely to solicit enter for ARPA-E’s consideration to tell the doable formulation of future analysis applications. No FOA exists presently.

Superhot methods on this context consult with system with temperatures of better than or equal to 375°C and related pressures of roughly 22 MPa. Applied sciences solely related to geothermal environments with temperatures and pressures lower than these values are of no curiosity to this RFI.

This RFI seeks details about key enabling applied sciences for growth of high-temperature geothermal sources. Equal, well-tested, and mature gear, developed by the petroleum business, exists for decrease temperatures (roughly 200°C) however will fail quickly on the increased temperatures and corrosive situations of high-temperature geothermal wells. This RFI focuses on addressing primary technological wants for superhot geothermal power era with out prescribing a selected strategy (e.g., stimulation versus closed loop).

RFI Questions

ARPA-E encourages responses that handle any subset of the next matters. The questions current quite a lot of matters as examples, however don’t limit responses to those matters and will encourage modern concepts. Data and solutions from specialists outdoors the geothermal and petroleum industries are particularly inspired. Respondents could present responses and details about any of the next questions

Part 1: Transformational Applied sciences for Superhot Geothermal Methods

I. What are the important thing technological must implement superhot geothermal methods?

II. What are state-of-the-art applied sciences and enhancements required to supply superhot geothermal methods (at better than or equal to 375°C and related pressures of roughly 22 MPa) for the next matters (and what matters are lacking)?
a. Drilling (e.g., rock discount, borehole diameter, directional drilling, measurement whereas drilling, misplaced circulation, cooling, insulation of drill pipe, superior mechanical or nonmechanical drilling);
b. Properly development (e.g., casing, cement, elastomers, cementing, cement analysis);
c. Properly stimulation (e.g., fracturing fluids, plugs, sleeves, proppants) and understanding of geomechanical properties at excessive temperatures;
d. Closed loop methods (e.g., U-tube, co-axial, conductive supplies); and
e. Reservoir or borehole characterization (e.g., acoustic logs, resistivity logs, borehole imaging, stress and strain measurements, fluid composition, logging-while-drilling, tracers, downhole electronics, batteries).

Part 2: New Supplies for Excessive-Temperature, Excessive-Strain, Corrosive Environments

I. What are examples of modern supplies that could be helpful however usually are not generally utilized in current geothermal wells (e.g., ceramics, composites, additive-manufactured parts)?

II. What strategies exist to quickly speed up identification of recent supplies for geothermal wells (e.g., synthetic intelligence, machine studying)?

III. What strategies (e.g., laboratory, in situ, computational)

Part 3: Operational Wants and Supporting Applied sciences

I. What are state-of-the-art applied sciences and doable enhancements in energy era?
a. What situations are anticipated for the floor output (e.g., temperature, strain, fluid composition) of high-temperature geothermal wells, and what challenges are anticipated within the era of electrical energy, both initially or over time?
b. What are doable different working fluids for energy era (e.g., supercritical carbon dioxide)?
c. What are doable different strategies of energy manufacturing (e.g., thermoelectric)?
d. What are doable direct makes use of for output from high-temperature geothermal wells?

II. What ancillary income streams would possibly exist for superhot geothermal growth (e.g., power storage, crucial minerals, hydrogen era)?

III. What different constraints exist for increasing geothermal manufacturing, and the way would possibly these be addressed (e.g., availability of water provide, grid connectivity, allowing)?

IV. How does the workforce must adapt to a dramatic enhance in geothermal power growth?

V. What different areas/fields could profit from applied sciences developed for superhot geothermal methods?

VI. What specialists from outdoors the geothermal group can be helpful to seek the advice of?

VII. What are doable metrics to judge applied sciences and supplies developed to be used in superhot
geothermal and associated methods?

Part 4: Different

I. Elaborate on any extra technological wants you are feeling usually are not lined within the above sections.

Supply: ARPA-E