West Virginia University (WVU) is set to embark on a groundbreaking geothermal project aimed at evaluating the region's potential for geothermal energy and underground carbon storage. Spearheaded by the WVU Energy Institute, the project will involve drilling a geothermal well to a depth of 15,000 feet (4500 meters) to collect data and core samples in the Appalachian basin.
The project has received funding from the Geothermal Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, while Northeast Natural Energy LLC, the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, and WVU have provided cost-share funding. The drilling will take place at an existing well pad at the Morgantown Industrial Park operated by Northeast Natural Energy.
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The primary goal of the project is to gather enough data to determine whether geothermal reservoirs in the region could provide a cleaner energy source for parts of West Virginia and mid-Appalachia. Additionally, the project aims to investigate the potential for carbon storage.
The project is notable for being the first to request a deep geothermal science well drilling permit in West Virginia since the introduction of House Bill 4098. This legislation gives regulatory oversight on geothermal energy to the Department of Environmental Protection.
Experts from WVU Energy Institute, Northeast Natural Energy, and the U.S. Department of Energy will lead the project, with support from the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey and Hewitt Energy Strategies. The project has been praised for its cooperation with regulatory agencies and its potential to pave the way for a cleaner energy future in the region.
