Modeling the Potential for Geothermal Electricity in the United States

Explore the potential of geothermal electricity in the United States through this informative 50-minute lecture by Dr. Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University. Delve into recent advancements in drilling technologies that have expanded access to deep heat resources beyond traditional hydrothermal regions. Examine the concept of enhanced geothermal systems and their current deployment status. Analyze three costing models used to estimate geothermal power plant expenses and projected cost reductions through 2050. Learn about the application of these cost projections in the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) capacity expansion model to simulate geothermal and other resource deployments under various scenarios. Discover the conditions necessary for widespread geothermal electricity adoption, including significant cost reductions and strong policy support, as outlined in the Department of Energy's Enhanced Geothermal Shot initiative.