State awards CU Boulder $675,000 to study geothermal renewable energy

Gov. Jared Polis (R) announces a $7.7 million grant to advance the use of geothermal technology in the state, including two awards to the University of Colorado Boulder on Friday in Pueblo (Courtesy photo/CU Boulder)

The University of Colorado Boulder received $675,000 from the state on Friday to study the feasibility of using geothermal energy on campus.

Geothermal energy is the use of heat from the Earth to produce renewable energy. CU Boulder will use the money to conduct two feasibility studies and geothermal project designs that will produce millions of square feet of on-site geothermal energy.

“Geothermal energy, or the heat under our feet, is an untapped resource that can help people save money on energy and improve air quality,” Governor Jared Polis said in a statement. “Colorado is already a national leader in low-cost renewable energy, and now with these grants we are supporting the development of geothermal energy across the state.”

According to the release, developing Colorado’s geothermal energy resources “is essential to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while creating stable, well-paying jobs” and providing affordable and reliable access to clean energy,

CU Boulder received funding through the Colorado Geothermal Energy Grant Program, which aims to advance the use of geothermal technology throughout the state. The CU Boulder funding was part of $7.7 million awarded Friday for geothermal energy projects in the state.

“Geothermal energy has tremendous growth potential for applications in the United States, and we are grateful to the state for this funding, which will help us continue to explore the use of both geothermal exchange and geothermal resources on campus,” CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano said in the release . “The proposed research will contribute to CU Boulder’s energy and climate action goals as we strive to reduce climate impacts for the benefit of Coloradans, CU Boulder students, faculty and staff, and the local and regional community.”

The funding follows CU Boulder’s release in April of its updated Climate Action Plan, which outlines the campus’ climate goals of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

The first study, funded by a grant of nearly $500,000, will analyze the use of geothermal energy in Williams Village residence halls. If the project is successful, the campus will create a geocenter capable of obtaining energy for heating or cooling from natural ground temperatures. The project could result in investments in geothermal heating and cooling systems on campus that will replace CU Boulder’s reliance on heat generated from steam and fossil fuels.

The second study will examine the availability and feasibility of using deep geothermal resources to generate heat and electricity for the campus. The results of the study, funded by approximately $175,000 in state funds, could lead to the addition of cogeneration plants on campus that produce geothermal energy and create new job opportunities.

Electricity is produced using geothermal technology by extracting high-temperature heat from deep within the earth to produce steam, which is then converted into electricity. CU Boulder plans to start in July or August.

“We are excited to begin work on scoping geothermal energy generation and researching district heating projects,” Chris Ewing, CU Boulder vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability, said in the release. “We are excited to begin working with the Colorado Energy Office, RMH, Eavor Technologies, NREL, Major Geothermal and the Boulder community on this important research and are excited about the opportunities that may arise from it.”