The purpose of this project is to create geothermal reservoirs and extract heat from the earth in locations where high temperatures can be reached by conventional drilling techniques – in an effort to advance geothermal energy’s promise and potential in the US.
The demonstration will take place on an existing Federal lease located outside the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, about 30 miles south of Bend. Leases located outside the Monument boundary were designated for geothermal use by a committee that included representatives of the community, environmental groups, government and the geothermal industry.
Funded by a recent $21.45m American Reinvestment and Recovery Act grant through the US Department of Energy and $22.36m from the AltaRock-Davenport partnership, the project will also benefit from the research efforts of faculty and students at the University of Oregon, University of Utah, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Texas A&M, Temple University, and scientists from the US Geological Survey.
The US Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, the US Department of Energy, and Oregon state officials will review all plans and issue applicable permits only when satisfied that the Newberry project complies with strict standards. These public-sector entities will also continue to monitor all aspects of the project as it progresses.
The US Department of Energy describes EGS as extracting heat from the earth by creating a subsurface fracture system and circulating water through these fractures using deep well bores. Creating an EGS reservoir requires improving the natural permeability of rock.
