A bill has been presented to the U.S Congress proposing legislation to develop next generation geothermal systems to meet the country's future energy requirements.
Despite some individual States, particularly Nevada (whose Great Basin is the country's second-largest source of geothermal electricity). and Alaska, are found to have resources capable of producing more than 30GW of power, currently geothermal accounts for just 9% of the country's total energy mix.
U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) believe advanced geothermal technologies must be fast tracked and presented the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act to drive development forward.
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"As the United States looks to produce enough energy to meet our rising demand, we must include next-generation geothermal as one way we can reliably and efficiently generate electric power," said Senator Cortez Masto.
"Right now, Congress can proactively and thoughtfully push for the research and development of the necessary infrastructure to produce cutting edge, commercial-ready geothermal energy. In an-all-above approach to energy, it's a piece of the puzzle that will help lower energy costs and power our future."
Commenting on Alaska's potential Senator Murkowski said the State holds some of the "most promising geothermal resources in the world". She furthered that when energy prices are rising due to forces beyond our control, "this legislation ensures we have the tools, data, and innovation needed to unlock that potential and deliver reliable, baseload, homegrown energy for generations".
Among a raft of new measures, the Act aims to ensure that new and existing R&D programmes include the testing of next-generation technologies; enhance intergovernmental collaboration to locate ideal conditions for next-general geothermal energy production; and to expand public-private partnerships though a Next-Generation Geothermal Center of Excellence.
According to the Senators the legislation is endorsed by the Clean Air Task Force, ClearPath Action, Climate Innovation Action, Eavor, Fervo Energy, Geothermal Rising Action, National Wildlife Federation, and the World Resources Institute.
"The U.S. is at the forefront of geothermal energy innovation, and this bill has the potential to strengthen global leadership, boost competitiveness, and accelerate the next generation of clean firm technologies. This nation has vast, under-utilised next-generation geothermal and superhot rock potential," said Terra Rogers, Director for Superhot Rock Energy at the Clean Air Task Force.
Eavor Technolgies, which earlier this year began delivering geothermal power to the German grid using its Eavor-Loop technology, has applauded the motion, with Ben Serrurier, Director of Government Affairs and Policy saying the Senators' bipartisan leadership advances geothermal research and development.
"By prioritising commercial-readiness innovations in drilling, reservoir design, data analytics, and surface facilities, this legislation targets key barriers to rapidly scaling next-generation geothermal," he said
