Hot dry rock geothermal energy research, testing, development, and demonstration

(a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the programs in this section should— (1) effectively address the scientific and engineering challenges with regard to developing— (A) cost-competitive hot dry rock geothermal projects; and (B) the hot dry rock geothermal energy industry in the United States; and (2) support the development of a pathway to producing hot dry rock geothermal energy on a commercial scale. (b) Research grant programs (1) High-temperature completions research, testing, and development The Secretary shall establish a grant program to award amounts to eligible entities to research, test, and develop high-temperature completions, including— (A) the research and testing of high-temperature water-rock casings, cements, stimulation tools, and geochemistry; and (B) the testing and development of high-temperature casing and completions. (2) High-temperature and high-pressure sensing equipment development The Secretary shall establish a grant program to award amounts to eligible entities— (A) to develop high-temperature and high-pressure sensing equipment; and (B) to support the development of equipment that can be used for screening, monitoring, and characterizing the subsurface in an environment of extreme depths, temperatures, and pressures. (3) Supercritical fluid properties research and testing The Secretary shall establish a grant program to award amounts to eligible entities to research and test the properties of supercritical fluids, fluid flow, fluid-rock interactions, and fluid assurance characterization. (4) Hiring and staffing The Secretary shall establish a program to increase staffing relevant to the grant programs established under paragraphs (1) through (3) and to contract with scientists to assist with the research, testing, and technological development associated with the grant programs established under paragraphs (1) through (3). (5) Applications To be eligible for a grant under paragraph (1), (2), or (3), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (6) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the grant programs established under this subsection $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (c) Frontier observatory and testing site for hot dry rock geothermal energy technology program (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program for eligible entities to construct a field research site— (A) to test, experiment with, and demonstrate hot dry rock geothermal projects, including drilling completion, reservoir creation, flow testing, and production characteristics; and (B) to provide an advanced and well-resourced facility with access to a site with required geology, as determined by the Secretary, including lithology, composition, and temperature and depth gradients. (2) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (d) Hot dry rock geothermal energy systems research, development, and demonstration activities (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to support research, development, and demonstration activities and facility operations of eligible entities to provide solutions to challenges to the establishment of a commercial hot dry rock geothermal project, including the following: (A) The technical feasibility of subsurface infrastructure for supercritical fluids. (B) Geothermal reservoir management and thermal drawdown research. (C) Advanced deep drilling methods, which includes— (i) researching, developing, and demonstrating energy-based drilling and novel drilling methods; (ii) researching thermal physical properties of rock at extreme temperatures and pressure conditions; and (iii) researching the crustal stress and geomechanics for drilling performed during hot dry rock geothermal projects. (D) Proppant research for fracture systems in hot dry rock geothermal projects. (E) Wellbore integrity and construction. (2) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (e) Milestone-Based development grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a grant program to award set amounts to eligible entities that demonstrate the achievement of a program milestone described in paragraph (2) to support the development by such eligible entities of— (A) wells that reach supercritical temperatures; (B) processes that bring supercritical fluids to the surface; and (C) techniques to harness geothermal energy. (2) Program milestone A program milestone includes the following activities conducted with the use of a covered technology as part of a hot dry rock geothermal project: (A) Drilling at different depths, temperatures, and pressures. (B) Geothermal reservoir creation. (C) Steam production (to measure well flow over time). (D) Power production of increasing size. (E) Other supporting activities, including— (i) converting a coal plant to accept steam from a hot dry rock geothermal energy powerplant; (ii) energy-based drilling for accessing depths, temperatures, and pressures previously inaccessible with conventional drilling technology; and (iii) stimulation for hot dry rock reservoir creation. (3) Applications To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (4) Covered technology defined In this subsection, the term covered technology means— (A) a system for steerable drilling at temperatures and pressures relevant to geothermal energy production; (B) a system for cost-effective and efficient thermoelectric conversion; (C) a method for using working fluids other than water; (D) a new method for casing wells, applicable to geothermal energy production; (E) a system for deep drilling, including through basement rock; (F) a method for geothermal reservoir creation in the brittle-ductile transition zone of the crust of the Earth; (G) a method for increasing the surface area or heat transfer rate of a next-generation geothermal system; or (H) any other technology determined necessary by the Secretary for achieving a program milestone described in paragraph (2). (5) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a National Laboratory; (B) an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a))); or (C) a private entity. (2) Proppant The term proppant means particles mixed with fluids designed to keep an induced fracture open after stimulation. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Geothermal Technologies Office of the Department of Energy.