DOE Pours $99M Into 21 Geothermal Projects to Advance Enhanced Systems and Drilling

The U.S. Department of Energy announced over $99 million for 21 projects focused on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and exploration drilling. These field tests aim to unlock geothermal resources beyond traditional hotspots, with projects in Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. Current U.S. geothermal capacity stands at about 2.7 GW, generating roughly 0.4% of electricity, but the resource potential could be much larger if technical hurdles are overcome. Key players include Fervo Energy, Zanskar Geothermal, and Quaise Energy, each testing different approaches to drilling, reservoir stimulation, and high-temperature operation. The DOE also plans to share subsurface data through its Geothermal Data Repository, which could lower exploration costs industry-wide. While the funding won't immediately transform the power market, it targets the biggest barriers to scaling geothermal: finding resources, improving reservoir performance, and proving EGS can work outside established geothermal regions.