The Department of Energy has moved to fund up to seven pilot enhanced geothermal system (EGS) projects to demonstrate different geologic settings, a variety of development techniques, and different well orientations.
The U.S. agency on Feb. 8 announced up to $74 million to support the EGS pilots, for which the November 2021–enacted Infrastructure Act designates $84 million. The DOE said it would accept applications for the Congressionally funded EGS pilots over multiple rounds. First-round letters of intent are due March 8, 2023, and first-round applications will be due July 7, 2023. The DOE said it expects to announce its first-round selections in October 2023.