S. Himmelstein | June 14, 2023
Teams from collegiate institutions are invited by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to participate in its Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition. During the event, student researchers and aspiring engineers develop real-world geothermal solutions and compete for cash prizes while gaining experience in the renewable energy industry.
Teams must register by August 1, 2023, in order to submit proposals for either one of two tracks. The Technical Track requires a qualitative justification for deploying a geothermal district heating and cooling (GDHC) system in the proposed district community or campus district and a conceptual design of a geothermal system based upon community needs, available resources and prospective benefits to that community. Submissions for the Policy Track must present a qualitative justification for deploying a GDHC system in the proposed district an analysis of the regulatory environment, and a financial incentives and economic assessment.
Source: DOE
Students from the University of Oklahoma took home first place and $10,000 in prize funding as part of the 2022 Geothermal Collegiate Competition. This winning entry focused on the design of a system to repurpose six abandoned oil and gas wells in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to provide renewable geothermal energy for more than 730,449 sq ft of educational and municipal buildings, including sites within the Absentee Shawnee Tribe and Potawatomi Nation jurisdiction. Tapping into retired oil wells was the foundation of the plan that reduces drilling costs to feasibly power different facilities.
