Department of Energy has granted CEE, Projeo, and  ISGS for the project titled “FEASIBILITY OF STORING HEAT IN THE SUBSURFACE FOR FLEXIBLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION”. The project focuses on demonstrating the proof of concept of utilizing existing oil and gas wells to generate electricity via a heat injection field experiment and numerical analyses. The overall goals of this research are to (1) eliminate the uncertainties involved in geothermal drilling; (2) provide a potential solution to the environmental hazards (methane escape) posed by abandoned oil and gas wells and (3) promote widespread use of geothermal energy development across USA. Graduate student Josiane Jello is the principal graduate research assistant working on the project.

Team members:

• Dr. Tugce Baser – CEE
• Nick Malkewicz – Projeo Corporation
• Dr. Steve Whitakker – ISGS