The federal agency tasked with supporting both research, and development of geothermal energy, and programs designed to expand the geothermal industry is accepting “letters of intent” (LOI) from qualified small businesses seeking grants to support enhanced geothermal systems and geothermal heating and cooling projects.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is accepting the LOIs for fiscal year (FY) 2025 “Phase I” funding under the GTO’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR and STTR initiatives are competitive-funding programs established to provide funding to eligible small businesses through grants and cooperative agreements that will be used to conduct geothermal energy research and development, according to GTO.

The deadline to file a LOI under the SBIR and STTR programs is Jan. 14, 2025, and the deadline to file full applications under those programs is Feb. 26, 2025, GTO says. In addition, projects must have the potential to commercialize enhanced geothermal systems and geothermal heating and cooling projects, according to GTO. The name of the projects, the maximum fiscal year (FY) 2025 awards for those projects, as well as some details of each are:

• The High Temperature Elastomers for Enhanced Geothermal Applications will award a maximum Phase I grant of $200,000 to be used for research that improves elastomeric materials used in harsh downhole geothermal environments, particularly in enhanced geothermal system (EGS) development and for temperatures over 250 degrees Celsius for long-term use and 300 degrees Celsius for short-term use, and up to 375 degrees Celsius for superhot systems. Applications for this funding opportunity should focus on improving elastomeric materials, specifically for use in geothermal wells, including for use in seals, o-rings, zonal isolation devices, pumps, valves, motors, and wellbore monitoring tools, according to GTO.
• The Geothermal Heating and Cooling funding opportunity will provide a maximum Phase I award of $200,000 to be used for three research subtopics for geothermal heating and cooling that are focused on advancing technical systems rather than specific components and requiring collaborative efforts for success. This opportunity targets ambient temperature geothermal resources only, and hydrothermal and EGS applications are excluded. The geothermal heating and cooling topic areas are:
  • Low-impact drilling systems for geothermal heat pumps (GHPs): This subtopic is to support the research, development, and demonstration of advanced drilling systems for GHPs, with a focus on compact, automated, and robotic technologies.
  • Rapid site assessments for GHPs: This subtopic aims to develop advanced tools for rapid site assessment and screening of GHP installation locations. Successful projects will address market barriers like site assessment, heat exchanger sizing, and permitting to accelerate GHP adoption.
  • Geothermal heating and cooling for protected agriculture: This subtopic focuses on creating affordable geothermal heating solutions for greenhouses and other controlled farming environments with the goals being to support year-round food production; improve energy efficiency; and reduce fossil fuel use. GTO is interested in scalable systems that work in different climates, use less water, and help build local, resilient food systems.

Click here to read the GTO document announcing the grant opportunities.