Scaling inhibition in geothermal systems;
Development of sensors and systems for subsurface electromagnetic monitoring to monitor the locations of deep subsurface CO2 plumes; and
Development of new digital tools for the conceptual design and planning of CO2 conditioning equipment to mitigate excess oxygen in CO2 transport systems.
This funding is under the DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. The maximum award amount program for topics under the category C59-10 (Advanced Subsurface Technologies) is $200,000 for Phase 1 and $1.1 million for Phase 2.
Letters of intent are due on the 27th of August 2024 and full applications need to be submitted by the 8th of October 2024.
Specifically on the subject of geothermal scale inhibition, the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is looking for projects that demonstrate increased effectiveness compared to current state-of-the-art inhibition methods in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. This could involve chemical treatments, advanced materials such as superhydrophobic coatings, or other means.
Applications must be responsive to the subtopic of improving inhibition of mineral scaling within geothermal systems. Applications focusing on scale mitigation or removal via traditional technologies, ground source heat pumps, direct use applications, or gathering of data that is not of interest under this subtopic via surface/downhole sensors will be deemed non-responsive.
A funding opportunity under the same program, under the topic of advanced data collection for geothermal exploration, was announced in early 2024. Two small business were awarded grants for Phase 1 of that funding round, namely South Carolina-based Atlas Energy Ltd. Co. and Arizona-based Zonge Engineering and Research Organization, Inc.
