Mar 30, 2015

Energy Department Seeks Information on Geothermal Risk and Uncertainty Management

The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to help quantify and manage risk in geothermal exploration, in an effort to reduce the high upfront costs of drilling. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to cost and risk reduction in late-stage geothermal exploration activities such as drilling and advanced geophysical surveys.
 
Due in part to the lack of response from industry operators and developers during the 2014 Play Fairway Analysis FOA, EERE is specifically interested in information on current opportunities to develop, test, and validate risk and uncertainty models for potential projects that have already been identified by industry. In 2014, the Energy Department's Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) funded eleven projects focused on reducing risk and uncertainty in early stage geothermal exploration. Selected projects adapted methods borrowed from the oil and gas industry, commonly known as 'Play Fairway Analysis.' This RFI is intended to lay the groundwork for a planned 2015-2016 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that could increase the success rate for drilling targets in later-stage exploration activities with industry.
 
This is solely a request for information and not a funding opportunity. EERE is not accepting applications at this time. Responding to this RFI will not provide any advantages to future applicants of a potential FOA. Final details of a future FOA – anticipated size and timing of any EERE-funded awards are subject to Congressional appropriations.
 
Feedback to this RFI will be accepted no later than 5:00pm (ET) on 4/24/2015 and must be submitted electronically to [email protected] as attachments to an email. Read the full, published RFI and follow the guidelines in EERE Exchange.
 
 
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)