Geothermal’s Potential Being Recognized in Pa.

The potential of geothermal systems to help in meeting Pennsylvania’s increasing energy needs was recently examined in a study by the Joint State Government Commission.

Unearthing the Potential of Geothermal Energy Systems in Pennsylvania looked at several potential ways that the state’s potential could be unlocked, including reuse of abandoned and underperforming oil and gas wells for geothermal, abandoned mine water heating and cooling, and abandoned mine water cooled data centers.

The report builds on the landmark Project Innerspace report released last year on geothermal’s potential in Pennsylvania. The Future of Geothermal Energy in Pennsylvania, to which the Center for Energy Policy and Management contributed, found that with advancing technologies the state has robust potential for geothermal development.

The Project Innerspace report found that if Pennsylvania takes steps now to fully access the geothermal heat that exists underground, the Commonwealth could generate enough energy to meet 100% of its electricity, heating and low- and medium-temperature industrial process needs in as few as 10 years.

While Pennsylvania’s subsurface is not as hot as the Western states that have developed traditional geothermal power plants and energy systems, advanced techniques and technologies can still allow it to produce significant energy to help meet the state’s increasing needs, due primarily to the growth of energy-intensive data centers. In addition, Pennsylvania’s history of coal mining and oil and gas development provide it with advantages in developing geothermal systems.

State legislators are beginning to recognize the potential of geothermal energy in Pennsylvania. State Sen Nick Pisciottano of Allegheny County is seeking co-sponsors for legislation he plans to introduce to establish a regulatory framework for geothermal development, as several other states, including West Virginia, have done. Several state representatives will introduce a companion bill in the House. The legislation will authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate geothermal wells and permitting; establish subsurface property ownership rights; and permit abandoned oil and gas wells to be repurposed for geothermal development.

The Joint State Government Commission report determined that there are 382 potential sites for mine pool development across the state, including Allegheny, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties. Many abandoned mines have large volumes of water within them that could be recirculated using pumps and heat exchangers to draw heat from pool water and send it back into the mine pool to be reheated.

The report also looked at potential benefits if mine water could be used for cooling of data center infrastructure, which can account for up to 40 percent of its energy use and also requires millions of gallons of water.

Repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells could also present another reuse method by converting them into geothermal wells and pumping water through the subsurface through closed-loop systems.