Low-Temperature Geothermal Workshop
On November 5, 2020, the Illinois Geothermal Coalition held a low-temperature geothermal workshop with several participants and speakers, hosted by the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) , Facilities & Services (F&S), and the Illinois Water Resources Center (IWRC). F&S Executive Director, Dr. Mohamed Attalla, and F&S Associate Director for Sustainability, Morgan White, presented on ten existing campus geothermal projects. The presentation file is available in the left sidebar of this webpage.
This technical workshop brought together scientists, engineers, practitioners, decision-makers, and stakeholders involved in low-temperature geothermal energy studies, developments, and policy-making. A group of 14 experts from the U of I and national and international organizations presented on the innovative research undertaken for low-temperature geothermal exchange, direct use heating and cooling, and underground thermal energy storage. The event provided a forum for the exchange of ideas on the design, development, and use of these geothermal energy technologies.
The forum served as a launching pad for planning a larger geothermal research program at the university and developing collaborations with our national and international partners. With the expected growth in low-temperature geothermal energy systems for renewable energy portfolios that address zero-carbon goals and improve resiliency and electric grid independence, F&S, iSEE, and the IWRC are working to make U of I the leading Midwest institution for geothermal energy research. Because flowing groundwater greatly impacts the efficiency of low-temperature geothermal energy systems and is a critical component of the water-energy nexus, these efforts will provide a better understanding of the thermophysical and heat flow dynamics in the subsurface.