PPO-CWX-008-GTO: Regional Partnerships for Geothermal Data
Submission Deadlines:
Concept Papers – February 24, 2025 at 5 PM ET
Full Applications – April 22, 2025 at 5 PM ET
Questions? Reach out to us at info@connectwerx.org
ConnectWerx, a Partnership Intermediary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has opened a funding opportunity in collaboration with the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) for Regional Partnerships to support Geothermal Data Collection.
Complete the concept paper then the online application and upload the appropriate project information and supporting documentation in the application link below for PPO-CWX-008-GTO.
Concept paper submissions (due February 24, 2025 at 5PM ET) are not required prior to submitting a full application in April, but are highly encouraged and will provide applicants with DOE feedback prior to the full application deadline.
Full application submissions are due no later than Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 5 PM ET. Application submissions must include the following files as indicated in the below chart using the required templates.
| File Title | Max Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|
| Project Summary Slide (If submitted separately from project narrative) | 1 | PPT, PDF |
| Project Narrative (Template) | 9 | MS Word, PDF |
| Budget Workbook (Template) | Excel, PDF | |
| Project Gantt Chart (Template) | Excel, PDF | |
| Letters of Support and Commitment (if applicable) Note: Upload letters of support and commitment from program partners that are included inside the Regional Geothermal Development Partnerships Partner List. | 1 page maximum per letter | MS Word, PDF |
Submission Requirements
Responses shall be submitted by the date and time specified above.
Files shall be submitted in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat format, and not be larger than 5MB. ZIP files and other application formats are not acceptable. All files shall be print-capable, without a password. Filenames must contain the appropriate extension and shall not contain special characters. Appropriate files extensions are:
| Application / File | Valid Extensions |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word (MS Word) | .doc / .docx |
| Portable Document Files (Adobe Acrobat PDF) | |
| Microsoft Excel | .xls / .xlsx |
| Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) | .ppt / .pptx |
Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances. CWX encourages submissions to be made in advance of the deadline. Submissions can be updated or files replaced at any time prior to the deadline.
In the case of duplicate applications, only the latest submission (as indicated by the timestamp in the application portal) will be accepted.
The overall intent of this initiative is to accelerate the responsible deployment of geothermal energy in multiple underdeveloped regions of the U.S. by addressing specific barriers to deployment in each area. These barriers include a lack of adequate public data to guide and incentivize geothermal exploration activities, financial barriers that impede exploratory drilling and limited technical expertise in certain stakeholder organizations.
This initiative will build upon previous and ongoing work that has focused primarily on the Great Basin region of the United States and will support expanded efforts in regions such as, but not limited to, the southern Basin and Range, the Pacific Northwest (including Alaska), and Hawaii. It will allow for tailored approaches to accommodate the relevant regional factors such as resource type, climate, energy prices, community and local stakeholder values/culture, data gaps, etc. It may also help to achieve economies of scale in procuring and executing capital intensive and highly technical field work.
Participants are expected to collaborate in identifying data gaps as well as prioritizing, planning, and executing geothermal data collection and dissemination activities with the aim of incentivizing and stimulating follow-up geothermal exploration and development activities. The focus should be on pre-competitive data, i.e., datasets that would benefit multiple stakeholders if not the entire geothermal industry. The goal is to make all newly collected data publicly available within a reasonable timeframe. A limited embargo period may be allowed, where necessary, to incentivize industry participation.
ConnectWerx, in partnership with DOE, will coordinate the collection of applications, selection of partnership performers, negotiation of Business to Business (B2B) Agreements, and administer funds. DOE expects to make approximately 6 awards totaling approximately $19 million with this initiative. It is the project lead’s responsibility to develop and manage the scope, schedule and budget within the partnership. There will be a 20% minimum non-federal cost share requirement. It is anticipated that awards will range from $1M to $5M in federal share.
Applicants are encouraged to develop project concepts that are scalable from the low end of this range to the maximum, thus allowing DOE maximum flexibility in making selections that will optimize the overall portfolio. This could be accomplished by describing two separate project scopes for a high and a low budget scenario, or by constructing the project from multiple independent tasks such that DOE can select a subset of the proposed work for funding without compromising the overall project.
How to Participate
- Review details below on process, timeline, eligibility, and evaluation criteria
- Identify interested partner organizations and a suitable lead organization to serve as the lead applicant. ConnectWerx has developed a teaming partner list to facilitate this here.
- Submit any questions to the opportunity mailbox here, and monitor this page to see when new Q&As are posted.
- Register for the Informational Webinar and Objective Strategic Session on January 27, 2025 here.
- Attend the Office Hours on February 18, 2025 here and/or on April 7, 2025 here.
- Complete the concept paper submission form and upload the optional, but encouraged, concept paper here. Submissions are due Monday, February 24, 2025 at 5 PM ET.
- Complete the full application submission form and upload a full project narrative, budget workbook and supporting documents, in the application link for PPO-CWX-008-GTO. Submissions are due no later than Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 5 PM ET.
Concept Paper: Monday, February 24, 2025 at 5 PM ET
Full Application: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 5 PM ET
The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) Regional Partnerships for Geothermal Data launched on January 13, 2025. Please click here for announcement article for more information.
Objective Strategic Sessions (OSS)/Informational Webinar will be held on January 27, 2025 at 2 PM ET, click here to register.
Informational Office Hours will be held on February 18, 2025 at 2 PM ET and April 7, 2025 at 2PM ET.
Click here to attend the first session on February 18, 2025.
- January 13, 2025: Project Application Period Opens: DOE begins accepting submissions from interested parties
- January 27, 2025, at 2 PM ET: Objective Strategic Session/Informational Webinar (OSS/IW): ConnectWerx & DOE will provide further details about the funding opportunity. Interested participants can join to better understand the scope, scale, and intent of the opportunity and ask questions.
- February 18, 2025, at 2 PM ET: Informational office hours: Interested applicants can ask additional questions of ConnectWerx & DOE in a webinar format
- February 24, 2025, at 5 PM ET: Concept Paper submission period closes
- Week of March 10, 2025: DOE provides feedback on concept papers, including an encourage / discourage recommendation informing whether to submit a full application
- April 7, 2025, at 2 PM ET: Second Informational office hours: Interested applicants can ask additional questions of ConnectWerx & DOE in a webinar format
- April 22, 2025, at 5PM ET: Full application submission period closes.
- June 2025: DOE announces project selections
- Summer 2025: Selectees meet with ConnectWerx & GTO to initiate NEPA review, finalize project milestones and begin work.
Eligible applicants include industry, academic, state, or other entities capable of overseeing the proposed work and managing a partnership similar to the example in Figure 1. Applicants must be a U.S. domestic entity and must certify the following to apply:
I certify that the named applicant is not owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a government of a Country of Risk and meets the eligibility requirements for this program. I further represent that the information contained in the submission is true and contains no misrepresentations. I understand that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent information, misrepresentations, half-truths, or omissions of any material fact, may subject me to criminal, civil or administrative penalties for fraud, false statements, false claims or otherwise. (18 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and 287, and 31 U.S.C. 3729-3733 and 3801-3812). I further understand and agree that the statements and representations made herein are material to DOE’s funding decision.
FFRDCs and federal agencies are not eligible to apply under this opportunity, and their work cannot be funded through this PIA. If an applicant identifies a specific FFRDC capability that would be complementary to their proposed project, that information should be described in their concept paper and application. Information on DOE laboratory capabilities can be found at labpartnering.org. FFRDCs are encouraged to interact with potential applicants and GTO will develop a separate vehicle for FFRDC involvement where necessary.
Project proposals focused on ambient temperature resources (i.e., those requiring heat pumps) are not of interest under this opportunity. As this opportunity is funded through GTO’s Hydrothermal Resources program, study areas must be confined to areas that show potential for hosting traditional hydrothermal resources. Datasets that could support development of both hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) are of particular interest.
Criterion 1: Impact (40%)
- The potential of the proposed activities to incentivize follow-on geothermal exploration and development activities and to further DOE’s geothermal deployment goals.
- Anticipated economic value of the proposed new data to the region, community, or industry
- Anticipated scientific value of the proposed new data to the geothermal industry
- Degree to which the project would contribute to a pipeline of projects for later-stage DOE initiatives (LPO, technology demonstrations, etc.)
- Degree to which the project expeditiously adds to the open, public body of scientific data supporting geothermal development
- Degree to which the project will impact regions showing high potential for development of geothermal power generation
- Potential of the partnership to continue generating data beyond the funded period of performance
Criterion 2: Applicant and Partner Qualifications (30%)
- Degree and diversity of geothermal industry support and/or participation
- Expertise and experience of the applicant in organizing, contracting, and overseeing multi-disciplinary teams conducting work of similar type and scale
- Expertise and experience of the project team in prioritizing, planning, and executing or procuring data collection activities.
- Resources available within the team to provide a cost-effective approach to the proposed project for a high probability of success.
- Ability within the team to interpret and synthesize the new data and provide high value-added products
Criterion 3: Approach and Feasibility (30%)
- Adequacy of the proposed project management approach, including the clarity of project scope, cost, work plan, and key milestones.
- Likelihood that the proposed work can be permitted and completed within prescribed timeframes
ConnectWerx has established an online Teaming Partner List where organizations can express interest in partnering with others and share contact information. If you are interested in being added to the teaming partner list and having your information shared with others, please complete this form.
By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of its contact information. By enabling and publishing the Teaming Partner List, GTO is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. GTO will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.
| Organization Name | Organization POC | Interests for Teaming |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Stumpf |
The University of Illinois maintains drilling records for the Illinois Basin and has an active research program for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The geothermal program at U of I is focused on geothermal exchange, deep direct-use (DDU), and underground thermal energy storage (UTES).
| |
| Enthalpion Energy LLC | Adam Schultz | We provide magnetotelluric and multiphysics surveys, data analysis. 3-D inversion and interpretation services. Working in partnership with another Oregon company, we've developed a new generation of inexpensive but highly capable MT systems that are also available for sale. |
| Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology | John Metesh | The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) is the state geologic survey for Montana and is part of Montana Technical University actively engaged in geology, hydrogeology, and geothermal research. MBMG geoscientists collect, interpret, and distribute geologic data used to manage Montana’s water, land, mineral, and energy resources, and to assess geologic hazards. Our geologists have detailed knowledge of Montana’s stratigraphy, structure, and geologic history, and expertise in tectonics, geochronology, earthquakes, landslides, fossil fuels, economic geology, mineralogy, environmental assessment, and science education. |
| Colorado Geological Survey | Matthew Sares | The Colorado Geological Survey strives to reduce the impact of geologic hazards on Colorado’s citizens, promote responsible economic development of mineral and energy resources, provide geologic insight into water resources, and offer sound geologic advice and information to diverse constituencies. For this DOE funding announcement, the Colorado Geological Survey is interested in a regional partnership with other state geological surveys, national laboratories, and private businesses that can contribute to our understanding of geothermal resources related to regional geologic structures such as the Rio Grande Rift, sedimentary basins, and/or zones of persistent crustal weakness with repeated structural events. Specific subject areas in which we are seeking cooperation include: gathering and interpretation of geophysical data (seismic, deep resistivity, magnetic, gravity) of both existing data and prospective acquisition of new data; novel geologic mapping in areas with geothermal resource potential; geochemistry of existing and newly identified thermal springs and wells; acquisition of high-quality temperature data from wells and boreholes; and possible exploratory drilling in geothermally prospective locations. |
| Getech Group plc | Bill Heins | Our company strength is locating natural resources including critical minerals like lithium, geothermal heat, and subsurface geological energy storage opportunities. We identify prospective exploration areas based on genetic analysis of the geological systems responsible for creating the resource. We use our own proprietary geophysical data and geological databases as well as public and client geoscience data and interpretations to isolate when and where the processes responsible for resource creation operated. We wish to team with partners who: require the resources, but lack exploration capability; or who have unique geological or geophysical data; or who have technical and financial resource development capability once the resource has been located. |
| New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources | Shari Kelley | Collecting geophysical, geological, and water chemistry data to locate blind geothermal systems along the Rio Grande rift in Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas. |
| Energy Northwest | Ross Rebich | Energy Northwest (EN) is a Joint Operating Agency for the State of Washington and is actively pursuing a utility-scale geothermal electricity production project, on behalf of our member utilities, to be located in the Pacific Northwest. EN is interested in subject matter experts and partners to help with early-stage geothermal heat resource identification, site selection, analysis, and exploratory drilling. The goal of the effort is to identify one or more locations that show the feasibility to support a future production plant. |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Nicole Lautze | Since the 1970s, the University of Hawaii (UH) has led Hawaii’s geothermal research. With Hawaii’s leading earth scientists, the UH is Hawaii’s de facto state geological survey (Hawaii is the only U.S. state without an official geological survey). UH conducted Hawaii’s two only statewide geothermal resource assessments and determined that all of the major Hawaiian Islands likely hold geothermal resources. Since 2014, the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center (HGGRC) continues UH’s leadership in Hawaii’s geothermal research. Led by Dr. Nicole Lautze, this UH unit produces cutting-edge geothermal research while serving as a repository for Hawaii’s geothermal information. HGGRC digitized over 4,000 historical documents, converted historical datasets into digital form, and disseminated them through UH online repositories. Since 2015, HGGRC’s website (www.higp.hawaii.edu/hggrc) has served as a central information portal for historic and new information on Hawaii’s geothermal. Throughout the Play Fairway project, HGGRC collected data, developed new simulations for subsurface heat across the Hawaiian Islands, and performed on-the-ground experiments. Analyzing the resulting data, HGGRC determined which locations held resources at an accessible depth. Project results could direct Hawaii’s future statewide geothermal development strategy and will inform groundwater management across the state. |
| International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC) | Sven Fuchs | The International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC; www.ihfc-iugg.org) maintains the Global Heat Flow Database and specializes in geothermal exploration and data. We aim to contribute to the GTO Regional Partnerships for Geothermal Data initiative by leveraging our expertise in heat flow data collection and modeling. With extensive recent experience in the quality control (QC) of geothermal data (heat flow, temperature gradients, and thermal rock properties) on a global scale, we bring valuable insights to the table. Our full borehole thermal parameter prediction tools are designed to help better understand geothermal fields and assess resource potential in underexplored regions. We are eager to collaborate on identifying and filling critical data gaps, ensuring both data and metadata quality, and supporting geothermal exploration through advanced data methodologies. Additionally, we are committed to promoting the use of these datasets for sustainable energy development. On a global scale, we have partnered with ProjectInnerSpace to lead a global team in performing high-impact QC of geothermal data since 2023. |
| Petroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines | Mohamed Khaled | Our team was actively involved last year in evaluating the U.S. heat flow database and aligning it with the standards of the International Heat Flow Commission. We successfully mapped heat flow data points across the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, while identifying gaps in the current database. We are eager to build on this work by incorporating additional heat flow data points from various databases, applying reliable correction methods to enhance downhole temperature measurements, and conducting laboratory measurements of rock thermal conductivity as needed. |
| Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin | Shuvajit Bhattacharya | Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin functions as the State Geological Survey of Texas and has been an integral part of the development of the state’s economic success through the years. BEG researchers spearhead basic and applied research projects globally in energy resources, technologies and economics, coastal and environmental studies, land resources and use, geologic and mineral mapping, hydrogeology, geochemistry, and subsurface nanotechnology. BEG has been working on geothermal energy for at least the last five decades. BEG works on geothermal projects funded by the DOE, DOD, state, and private industry-funded consortium (HotRock Geothermal). BEG’s current geothermal projects include subsurface data collection, geologic characterization, reservoir modeling, induced seismicity, data analytics, and techno-economics for geopressured geothermal, enhanced geothermal systems, and closed-loop geothermal. For this DOE call for proposal, we are interested in a regional partnership with other state geological surveys, universities, national laboratories, and private businesses that can contribute to our understanding of geothermal resources in the Rio Grande Rift (W-SW Texas), Gulf Coast, East Texas sedimentary basins, etc. We are also open to collaboration in other basins of interest. |
| RUNWITHIT Synthetics Inc. | Myrna Bittner | To contribute as a sub on a team by bringing a target platform for integrating and visualizing the activities that can be shared publicly or curated and pushed to other GIS platforms. RUNWITHIT Synthetics furnishes people, place and scenario-based 3D data modelling and visualization platform where in addition to publishing existing data sets, it enables synthetic modelling and data to augment what is missing, such as synthetic grids, forecasted energy consumption patterns, energy behaviour, sentiment and adoption, behind the meter changes in activity, all in relation to the built environment, as it is today and as it is anticipated, and under configurable conditions and events, such as disasters and chronic and acute climate events.
|
| CAD / CAM Services | Scott Shuppert | CAD / CAM Services is an experienced and high-end 2D and 3D CAD engineering services company. We take existing hard copy prints or 3D scans to create 2D or 3D intelligent and accurate CAD files. Our only job is creating intelligent - accurate CAD data. 2D CAD conversion / update work 3D CAD modeling, and engineering services 3D onsite scanning services We have been doing this for the last 40 years, with tons of DoD and Federal contracts and experience. Along with several projects of 3D scanning of gas and oil piping -> intelligent 3D CAD files. For Amazon.com we converted i excess of 1 million CAD files, with several $1m+ DoD contracts in place today. We are experts in GIS, the oil & gas industry, along with specific software systems such as ArcInfo, Revit, and many others. Along with being an authorized Autodesk Service provider. Cage code 1ERF2, GSA and ITAR certified. |
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District | Kristy McKeen | Geothermal generation opportunities within or near the SMUD service territory |
| Cornell University | Chanmaly Chhun | We aim to deploy dense seismic arrays to investigate joint geophysical and data-driven exploration of green geothermal fields, in particular in volcanic regions in the Cascades, Alaska, and Hawaii. Our primary goal is to identify optimal locations for exploratory boreholes and share data/results that promote further geothermal exploration and development. Results could include advanced induced seismicity risk models, high-resolution imaging of subsurface structures, temperature and stress mapping, and resource characterization and assessment. Additionally, understanding volcanic lithology, stratigraphy, and permeability structure is crucial and will be enhanced in this work. We are seeking partnerships with teams interested in deploying complementary instruments, such as gravity and electromagnetic (EM) sensors and surface heat flow probes, in the same locations as our seismic array (seismometers, nodes, and/or DAS). We are also open to collaborations to process existing seismic data with our advanced ambient noise analysis and/or machine learning data extrapolation methods to available geophysical datasets. This collaborative effort will enhance data collection, execution, and interpretation (e.g., joint inversion or machine learning) for improved exploration/development outcomes. |
| Virginia Tech | Dan Homa | We are very much be interested in collaborating with experts in the deployment of fiber optic technologies, geophysics, and data analyses. To provide the most benefit to the scientific community, collaboration is essential to move these technologies forward and we welcome the opportunity to talk and potentially work together. |
- What is a PIA and why is DOE/GTO pursuing this approach?
- Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) are agreements between the Federal government and non-Federal partners (partnership intermediaries or PIs) designed to increase outreach to, and engagement with, small business firms, institutes of higher education, and non-traditional partners.
- Can several entities apply together as a consortium if they choose to do so?
- DOE prefers pre-formed partnerships or teams of eligible applicants. A single lead entity should submit the application describing the roles of partner entities. DOE will take into consideration the scope of work proposed by all proposed partners as part of the review process.
- Can interested parties apply individually?
- We encourage entities to apply as a pre-formed consortium. While we do accept individual applications, we encourage individuals to sign up for the teaming partner list to connect with other organizations seeking to form consortia.
- Are projects in the Great Basin region of interest for this opportunity?
- Yes
- Are projects in the eastern U.S. of interest for this opportunity?
- Only to the extent that they show potential for hydrothermal resources. These areas are very limited in the eastern U.S.
- How is the funding awarded?
- DOE expects to make up to 6awards to lead performers, totaling up to $19 million. The project lead is responsible for the development and management of the partnership budget. The proposed budget must reflect all consortium parties.
- What is the maximum number of entities that could be funded as part of the consortium?
- There is no pre-determined maximum number of entities that could be funded from this opportunity. The number of selected performers will depend on the scope of work proposed and the total proposed budget of all the members.
- Is it a requirement for the partnerships to include an academic institution?
- There is no requirement for an academic institution to be included in the consortium.
- Are projects required to be confined to a specific geographic area?
- It is anticipated that partnerships will be organized based on a common geographic interest, however, DOE will consider concepts that are organized around other factors offering significant value for geothermal exploration and development. For example, a partnership may be considered that is organized around a specific data type, e.g., seismic data. A partnership that covers multiple regions and is focused on infrastructure for data dissemination may also be of interest.
- Can the period of performance extend beyond two years?
- A single project extension of up to one year may be considered for selected awards.
- Can a full application be submitted if a concept paper was not submitted by the deadline?
- Yes, however, it is to the applicants’ advantage to submit a concept paper so that they can receive feedback from DOE on their proposal.
- Can a full application be submitted if a “discourage” response is received from DOE after a concept paper is submitted and reviewed?
- Yes, an applicant can still submit a full application if they received a “discourage” response from DOE at the concept paper stage.
- What are the requirements for making data publicly available?
- New data acquisitions supported through this initiative must be made public through the DOE Geothermal Data Repository (GDR). An embargo period of up to 5 years can be requested for GDR data submissions when necessary to incentivize industry participation. Pre-existing data (i.e., acquired prior to this initiative) can be disseminated to partners through this initiative and is not required to be made publicly available. Note that the selection criteria favor project concepts that maximize new publicly available data in the shortest timeframe.
