Great Basin Enhanced Geothermal Systems Project

Planned

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released an assessment indicating that geothermal energy from Nevada's Great Basin could supply up to 10 percent of the United States' electricity needs. The project involves deploying enhanced geothermal systems at scale, where water is pumped as deep as 3.7 miles underground, heated by natural geological formations, and returned to the surface to generate electricity. The assessment includes newly developed maps of underground heat flows and refined extraction models to increase the basin's productivity. The project is part of the 2020 Energy Act and supports the Biden administration's goal of a zero-emissions grid by 2035.