[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7177-7178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3021]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy Systems; Development of a Plant To 
Produce and Market Electric Power or Thermal Energy

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE), Albuquerque Operations Office (AL).

ACTION: Notice of issue of solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The DOE Albuquerque Operations Office announces the issue of a 
competitive Solicitation Number DE-SC04-95AL98784 under DOE Financial 
Assistance Rules, 10 CFR 600.9, for Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy 
Systems Development of a Plant to Produce and Market Electric Power or 
Thermal Energy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque 
Operations Office, P.L. Box 5400, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5400, Attn: Ms. 
M. Laurene Dubuque, Contracts and Procurement Division, Telephone 
Number: (505) 845-4301, Fax Number: (505) 845-4004.
    A copy of the solicitation can be obtained by contacting Ms. 
Dubuque at the above address, telephone, or fax number(s). Applicants 
who have previously requested copies of this solicitation are currently 
on the mailing list and have been furnished a copy of the solicitation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This competitive solicitation is seeking 
industrial partners to participate in a 50/50 cost-shared, industry-led 
project to develop and operate a prototype plant to produce and market 
electric power or [[Page 7178]] heat generated from geothermal energy 
in hot dry rock. One award is anticipated to be made for a multi-
staged, multi-year cooperative agreement, requiring a team composed of 
a resource owner, developer, operator, and customer for the energy. DOE 
anticipates that $1,500,000 will be available for the support of 
activities during the first year of the project with future annual 
budget allocations ranging from $1,500,000 to $8,000,000. The funding 
does not include the applicant's cost share.

Background

    Geothermal energy is found at depths everywhere in the world in the 
form of heat stored in rock which is not but essentially dry. Advanced 
technology to extract the geothermal energy from this hot dry rock has 
been under development for over 20 years. The technology entails 
circulating water through a man-made geothermal reservoir to extract 
thermal energy and bring it to the surface for recovery and use. 
Several studies have estimated that geothermal energy from hot dry rock 
could be used to produce electricity at costs of $0.05-0.07 per kWh at 
numerous high gradient locations located in the western United States 
and overseas, there appear to be no technical impediments to the 
commercialization of hot dry rock technology.
    On September 14, 1993, DOE/AL issued a Notice of Program Interest 
to obtain a preliminary indication of interest by private and non-
federal public organizations in cost-sharing a project to develop and 
operate a demonstration plant to generate and market electric power or 
heat from hot dry rock geothermal energy. On September 7, 1994, a 
Commerce Business Daily announcement was published for the intent to 
issue a solicitation. DOE/AL received responses from a number of 
diverse organizations which constitute the initial mailing list for the 
solicitation. On the basis of this expressed interest, the solicitation 
was issued December 28, 1994 with a closing date of March 28, 1995 for 
receipt of applications.

Purpose

    This notice is issued to announce the issue of hot dry rock 
geothermal energy systems solicitation.

    Issued in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 26, 1995.
Richard A. Marquez,
Assistant Manager for Management and Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-3021 Filed 2-66-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M