You might not realize it, but beneath our feet lies a source of heat that can be tapped to provide heating and cooling to both residential and commercial buildings, replacing current, large-scale systems with renewable and domestically sourced energy. The application, Deep Direct-Use (DDU), is an emerging technology that has been underutilized in the U.S., and if feasible, could result in greater opportunities for geothermal resource development and high energy cost savings throughout the country.

How it Works

DDU applications can be deployed between 100°F and 300°F—but at a larger scale. Using relatively low-temperature, direct geothermal energy has the potential to diversify the nation's energy supply and reduce heating and cooling costs. DDU applications can potentially be used to replace conventional district heating and cooling systems for large energy end-users, such as hospital complexes, university campuses, and military installations.

Although direct-use technologies are the oldest, most versatile, and most prevalent form of geothermal energy, deep direct-use systems have not been developed in the U.S. because of technical, cost, and institutional barriers. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is presently working to help unlock these geothermal applications for near-term deployment.