Funding Notice: Geothermal Resources’ Value in Implementing Decarbonization (GRID)

Office: Geothermal Technologies Office 
FOA number: DE-FOA-0003346
FOA Amount: $7 million 
Letters of Intent (Required) Due: July 24, 2024
Applications Due: September 9, 2024 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Geothermal Technologies Office’s (GTO) GRID Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which seeks regional grid modeling studies that quantify the potential contribution of renewable, firm geothermal power in supporting the nation's future grid and economy. 

Review the second-round FOA Quick Guide as a reference on eligibility and the Teaming Partner List page as a reference on partnering to apply. 

Objective

The GTO GRID FOA aims to quantify the role of geothermal power in the nation's electricity grid. This work will address the challenge of grid stability through detailed studies on how renewable, firm geothermal power can support and stabilize the grid as it incorporates higher shares of intermittent energy sources. Innovative valuation metrics developed under this FOA will provide a deeper understanding of geothermal energy's economic and reliability benefits, fostering informed decision making for future energy policies and investments. GTO’s strategic goals for this work are derived from the office’s GeoVision analysis and Multi-Year Program Plan. Through this FOA, GTO intends to fund 1‒14 regional grid modeling studies within specific power pools, joint utilities groups, utility service territories, or Tribal jurisdictions in the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawai'i, or U.S. territories. 

Topic Area

These studies should use one or more analysis approaches and tools such as capacity expansion modeling, production cost modeling, Loss-of-Load based analyses, machine learning applications, and/or alternate modeling or market design approaches. 

The FOA has one topic area: Value of Geothermal Power. Given the versatility of the “heat beneath our feet,” the value of geothermal power can be represented from a few different perspectives based on the current capabilities geothermal already provides or has demonstrated, as well as emerging technology innovations that are unlocking new ability for geothermal power to contribute to the reliability of the grid, including: 

• Firm capacity to support resource adequacy: The reliability contribution of geothermal power is recognized as increasingly important for the evolving grid due to its high capacity credit. 
• Flexible geothermal power and ancillary services a) to the grid and/or b) to a deferrable load: The capability of geothermal power to operate flexibly may support grid operators in balancing across an evolving generation supply mix and customer load demand while enhancing energy value. 
• Integrated value of geothermal power with storage technologies: Hybridization of geothermal power with energy storage and/or intermittent renewable energy sources may bolster the cumulative diversity benefit while enhancing energy value. 
• Total system impact of geothermal power to cost of grid decarbonization: Providing a substantial role for geothermal power in the evolving grid and energy mix can maximize geothermal power’s system-wide benefits to the grid and economy. 

Teaming Partner List

DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for the GTO GRID FOA. The Teaming Partner List can assist organizations that wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships. See the Teaming Partner List page for more information. 

Key Dates (Subject to Change) 

Additional Information

• Review the FOA Quick Guide to determine eligibility and inform letters of intent and applications.
• Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) funding emails and EERE news and the Weekly Jolt newsletter to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities and stay up to date on EERE news.