Focus of the hot dry rock program after restructuring

Since the early 1970`s, the technology for extracting useful amounts of geothermal energy from hot dry rock (HDR) has developed from the conceptual stage to a demonstration of the technical feasibility of routine production of high-grade geothermal energy from HDR. On the basis of extremely promising flow-test results at the Fenton Hill, NM HDR test facility, the USDOE issued a solicitation in late 1994 seeking industrial partners to construct and operate a plant to produce and market energy derived from an HDR resource. Although bids were received and a DOE-appointed technical review committee recommended the project go forward, the solicitation was withdrawn in October 1995. At the same time, the DOE directed the Fenton Hill facility be completely decommissioned and announced a restructuring of the US HDR program. In December 1995 a geothermal industry panel commissioned by the Geothermal Division of the DOE reviewed the HDR program. Although the industry group made a number of general recommendations, it deferred specific program actions to future deliberations. The DOE is now considering convening two groups to address the future of HDR. A panel working under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) would conduct an in-depth review of HDR andmore » outline a visionary path to the eventual implementation of HDR technology. A second group, representing geothermal stakeholders, would provide advice and guidance to the DOE on the implementation of specific HDR projects to assure that HDR technology, while moving toward the vision developed by the NAS panel, at the same time contributed to achieving the near-term goals of the conventional geothermal industry.« less