The goal of this project is to leverage the resources of both program offices to support state-of-the-art research and development into geothermal power generation technology using co-produced fluids from older oil and gas operations. This hybridization combines traditional fossil energy operations with emerging renewable technologies to evaluate low temperature geothermal power production from oil fields. Leveraging existing oil and gas infrastructure reduces the upfront costs of geothermal development. The potential to produce renewable energy from existing sites extends beyond the work with RMOTC to oil and gas fields worldwide.

DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Program (GTP) is currently funding 17 projects demonstrating low temperature, co-produced and geopressured resources in different geological conditions to help enable online capacity of 3 gigawatts, approximately the capacity to power 2.4 million homes a year from these resources by 2020. RMOTC received funding from GTP in 2009 to develop infrastructure for future geothermal testing at the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3 (NPR-3).

NPR-3, located near Midwest, Wyoming, produces oil and 45,000 barrels of 190o F water per day from the Tensleep formation and 28,000 barrels of 210o F water per day from the Madison formation. The Tensleep hot water was previously treated as a waste stream. Then a test conducted with Ormat Technologies, Inc. of Reno, Nev., extracted heat from the water to operate a 250-kilowatt generator. To date, the total produced power from the unit is 1,918 megawatt hours from 10.9 million barrels of co-produced hot water. This on-going test was the first in the world to use the co-produced hot water to generate electricity in an operating oil field and will continue through 2011. There are a large number of oil and gas wells in the United States that produce hot water as well as hydrocarbon products, generally at temperatures below 220^° F, which are capable of generating renewable geothermal power.

RMOTC is located within NPR-3, 35 miles north of Casper, Wyoming. NPR-3, known historically as Teapot Dome, is operated by the Department of Energy as a producing oil field and a test site for new energy technologies. The 10,000-acre facility hosts traditional oil and gas testing as well as field research into renewable technologies, including wind, solar, and low-temperature geothermal. It is managed through DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy.

The Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Program works to establish geothermal energy as a significant contributor to the nation’s future electricity generation by partnering with industry, academia, and the national laboratories to discover new geothermal resources, develop innovative discovery and generation methods, and demonstrate high-impact geothermal technologies. For more information on the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center visit the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center website. For more information on the Geothermal Technologies Program visit the Geothermal Technologies Program website.

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, promotes sustainability through resource conservation, pollution prevention, and research efforts. The Center’s current research activities are focused on industrial pollution prevention, energy conservation, biofuels, and water quality, use, and reuse. In pursuit of its mission, ISTC administers a Research Grant Program which provides funds to universities, industrial groups, not-for-profit organizations, and the consulting community to advance the state of knowledge in areas of sustainability, pollution prevention, energy generation and conservation, and environmental issues of importance to the State. Usually six to ten new research projects receive funding each year, depending on monies available, the strength and relevance of the proposals, and importance to the most pressing sustainability problems in Illinois.

Each of ISTC’s new funding cycles begins with a focused solicitation identifying issues of special interest to the State. Pre-proposals are being requested at this time for funding in FY12. Pre-proposals are due to ISTC by January 19, 2011. They will be screened internally based on factors such as relevance to the solicitation, research objectives, adequacy of methods and techniques to achieve them, and qualifications of researchers to carry out the proposed work. Successful pre-proposal applicants will be notified by February 10, 2011, and asked to submit a full proposal by March 23, 2011. Notification of funding will be made by the end of May 2011.

Pre-proposals are being sought in the following areas of interest:

AREAS OF INTEREST

I. Sustainable Energy Research – Alternative & Non-conventional Energy Resources

Geothermal Resource Development in Illinois

Geothermal heat pump systems (GHPs) based on ground water sources are highly energy efficient for space heating or cooling. Open-loop GHPs differ from ground source GHPs where the heat exchange is with the earth. Where hydro-geologic circumstances permit the sustainable application of ground water source GHPs, utilizations of open-loop GHPs become more-cost effective and end users may realize significant energy savings.

Proposals are sought for projects that will facilitate geothermal resource development in Illinois, or portions of Illinois, for potential applications of ground water source GHPs.

Advanced Hybrid Energy Systems

Hybrid Energy Systems (HES) combine different energy resources to meet the energy requirements of a building or a district. When these energy resources are integrated, HES overcome the limitations inherent in each individual source. A hybrid renewable energy system may reduce dependency on fossil fuels and reduce atmospheric emissions.

Proposals are expected to focus on:

• Advanced integrated energy systems that use some or all of the following: geothermal heat pumps; solar energy (solar PV, solar thermal, and passive solar); biofuels; and wind power. New concepts and state-of-the-art technology are especially welcome.
• Utilization of HES for an energy-efficient building or district system, with an ultimate goal of realizing climate neutrality
• Optimization of the whole system including energy system design, optimal control of energy systems, as well as smart building design that makes better use of renewable energy

Biochar

Biochar, produced by the pyrolysis of biomass and used as a soil amendment, has potential to sequester carbon, improve soil quality, reduce nutrient application, and prevent pesticide leaching. The reduction in nutrient application will result in reduced energy usage. Several open questions remain regarding the efficacy of biochar under different soil conditions, its role in the nitrogen cycle, its effect on microbial ecology, and even the mechanisms by which it exerts its beneficial effects. Moreover, questions have been raised as to the residual level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or other compounds in biochar produced under a variety of manufacturing conditions and whether its introduction into the environment poses a risk to the food chain.

Proposals submitted under this topic should focus on the establishment of an integrated research approach encompassing biochar production, characterization, and field application with a specific focus on PAH residues and their potential transfer to the food chain.

II. Sustainable Water Use

Water use in Illinois is approximately 20 billion gallons/day and expected to increase 28% by 2025. Supplies such as ground and surface water are projected to experience additional demands as withdrawals from Lake Michigan are capped.

Proposals for reducing or reusing water or making water suitable for reuse in industrial, agricultural, or commercial sectors are especially welcome. Some topics that are of special interest are:

Emerging Contaminants and Water Reuse

Use of reclaimed water for agricultural, industrial, and/or landscape applications is a critical component of a sustainable water use framework. Sources such as concentrated animal feeding operation wastewater and municipal/domestic treated wastewater often contain trace contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and additives that may be impediments to reuse without careful assessment, monitoring, and control.

Proposals that address the quantitation of contaminants and treatment of water in settings that are expected to have a small number of readily identified contaminants, but with large water usage, are especially encouraged.

Water Use and Bioenergy

The production of ethanol from corn/lignocellulosic materials or distillates through thermochemical conversion routes require water for processing while producing contaminated wastewater.

Proposals for reducing the need for such water or for characterizing such contaminated water are particularly welcome.

III. Electronic Waste

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing problem throughout the world. It is estimated that 20 to 50 million tons of potentially toxic trash—computers, cell phones, televisions, and other electronic devices—are produced annually, much of it ending up in landfills or being improperly recycled. This buildup of e-waste can lead to potential health risks for people and the environment. E-waste includes a mixture of many chemicals that cause known adverse health effects alone: lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Inappropriate handing of e-waste, such as burning, may produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and furans.

Proposals are sought that focus on:

• Technology for recycling materials in e-waste in a sustainable manner
• Social aspects of adopting recycling practices/barriers to this; why discard or replace items; what are the end user’s perceptions of purchasing recycled electronics; how to market and package recycled electronics to the end users in ways that enhance desirability of ownership; unlocking consumer behavior on why or why not use recycling
• Strategies to reduce e-waste

IV. Miscellaneous Waste Materials/Beneficial Reuse

Proposals targeting utilization of agricultural wastes, industrial wastes, or by-products of energy production are also welcome.

GUIDELINES

Eligible Applicants

Researchers associated with both the public and private sectors may apply. Principal investigators may be from colleges, universities, industry, non-profit organizations, and the consulting community. Researchers are encouraged to partner across departments, units, colleges, and with external organizations as appropriate. Collaborative proposals with ISTC staff are also encouraged. In addition to new projects, proposals to supplement an outside project or additional research for ongoing programs will also be considered.

Available Funding

1. Seed Grants: Up to four grants (maximum $10,000 each) will be awarded. Grants for up to one year will be considered. The PI should stipulate the duration of the study and note this on the proposal time line. Research ideas that are linked to future applications for larger funding from state or national sources are encouraged. Reimbursements will be made following receipt of each quarterly progress report.
2. Regular Grants: Up to six grants (maximum of $25,000 each) will be awarded. Grants to support short-term (one year) and long-term (two years) studies will be considered. The PI should stipulate the duration of the study and note this on the proposal time line. Reimbursements will be made following receipt of each quarterly progress report.

Pre-proposal Format

The pre-proposals for this award should contain the following information:

Title Page which lists:

• Title
• Investigators and their affiliations
• Duration (start date September 1, 2011 or after)
• Total Cost, funds requested and any matching funds (matching funds are not required)

Pre-proposal narrative which (in 2 single-spaced pages or less using 11-point font or greater):

• Outlines the problem — giving the context and specific need
• Summarizes prior research succinctly and describes how what is being proposed is different and how it advances the state of knowledge. References can be on an additional page and not counted in the narrative page limit.
• Provides a broad overview of approach and timeline
• Discusses expected results, impacts, or outcomes

On a separate sheet provide a preliminary budget – Give a brief breakdown of costs, especially support for any graduate students. (Pre-proposals do not need to include a fully executed budget. The request for funds must include overhead as required by the institution.)

Also include a maximum 1-page resume for each investigator demonstrating sufficient expertise and a history of sponsored-project completion, including publication.

Pre-proposal Evaluation Criteria

Pre-proposals will be reviewed for the following:

• Does the work fit within the scope of the priority areas?
• Is the work significant?
• Will the anticipated results provide positive impacts and fill gaps in the needed data?

Proposal Timeline

• January 19, 2011 (by 5 pm CST) – Pre-proposals due to ISTC (with preliminary budgets)
• February 10, 2011 – Invitations to submit full proposals. Detailed guidelines for submission of full proposals will be provided at that time and will also be available on the ISTC web site. Full proposals will undergo detailed technical reviews by external reviewers as well as internal review.
• March 23, 2011(by 5 pm CST) – Full proposals due to ISTC
• End of May 2011 – Notification of funding

Pre-proposal Submission

Email an attached electronic copy of the pre-proposal to Nancy Holm at nholm@istc.illinois.edu. Please include the PI’s last name in the name of the attached file. Pre-proposals must be received by 5 pm CST, January 19, 2011.

Questions

All questions regarding the program should be directed via email to Nancy Holm at nholm@istc.illinois.edu or call 217-244-3330.

The mission of ISTC is to make Illinois sustainable. It supports work to conserve natural resources, reduce wastes, and increase economic vitality by providing Illinois businesses, institutions, and citizens with information, research, innovative technologies, and technical assistance.

Geothermal heat pumps use ground temperature air instead of outside air to provide heating, cooling and often water heating. GHPs can be installed in new and existing homes. Because they use the constant temperature of the earth, GHPs are among the most efficient heating and cooling technologies currently available in the marketplace.

EPA worked with industry stakeholders to revise the requirements in response to growing consumer demand forater-to-water geothermal heat pumps.  Water-to-water geothermal heat pumps provide heating and cooling and/or water heating to a building using liquid rather than forced air. The new requirements for water-to-water equipment complements existing efficiency and performance requirements for water-to-air and direct geoexchange GHP models. Homeowners who install geothermal heat pumps with the Energy Star are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

More information on the heat pumps: http://www.energystar.gov/ghp
More information on the tax credit: http://www.energystar.gov/taxcredits

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $338 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies.  These grants will support 123 projects in 39 states, with recipients including private industry, academic institutions, tribal entities, local governments, and DOE’s National Laboratories.  The grants will be matched more than one-for-one with an additional $353 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds.

In an effort to cut their carbon footprints, a handful of universities around the country are turning to ground-source heat exchangers and geothermal heating — sometimes with the help of federal financing.

Ball State University in Indiana expects to be able to eliminate a coal plant by adding heat pump capabilities. The system, which will take 5 to 10 years to finish, involves drilling holes 450 feet deep in several areas, using the earth’s natural heat to run its heating and cooling more efficiently, according to a blog post by Robert Koester, a professor of architecture at the university.

The university will need extra electricity to run the facility, Mr. Koester writes, but that will be at least partly offset by efforts to buy more solar and wind power.

Other schools turning to the technology include Hampton University in Virginia, Indiana Tech, and Montana Tech.

Garden Hills Elementary School has brighter hallways and cooler classrooms this fall, and the distinction of being the Champaign school district’s “first green school.” On Tuesday, the school celebrated the completion of a geothermal system that provides a more efficient way to heat and cool the building.

Construction of the country’s largest geothermal heating and cooling system is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 9. U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) will ceremonially control the drilling machine that will drive the first of up to 4,000 boreholes required by the project.

Within a decade, the university expects to heat and cool via geothermal means more than 40 buildings on its 660-acre campus, realizing significant annual energy savings and cutting carbon emissions by approximately 80,000 tons per year.

Sue Butler decided it was time to cut the cord on fossil fuels. So when her aging gas furnace needed replacing, she turned to the Earth for a solution.

She installed a geothermal system–also called a ground-source heat pump, a water-source heat pump, or geo-exchange system–which recently started heating and cooling her Cambridge, Mass. home. Butler said she was motivated by environmental reasons and concerns over carbon monoxide from burning natural gas.

“It’s not that much more expensive and I could manage it. And it means no more combustion and it gets the building off of carbon, which is urgent,” she said.

Ground-source heat pumps have been around for decades but every year seem to attract more homeowners and organizations who are looking for alternatives to traditional space heating and cooling. They can hook into existing forced hot air and hot water systems but not steam heat.

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the Internet search giant, has announced $10.7 million in grants to three organizations working to advance Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) energy technology.

While the traditional geothermal approach relies on finding naturally occurring pockets of steam and hot water, EGS expands the potential of geothermal energy by replicating these conditions, fracturing hot rock, circulating water through the system, and using the resulting steam to produce electricity in a conventional turbine. A recent MIT report on EGS estimates that just 2 percent of the geothermal heat located in the continental United States at a depth between three and ten kilometers — within the range of current drilling technology — is the equivalent of more than 2,500 times the country’s total annual energy use.