US DOE publishes report on Commercial Liftoff of geothermal heating and cooling
“Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Geothermal Heating and Cooling”
Carlo Cariaga
13 Jan 2025
The US Department of Energy has published a report highlighting the pathways for commercial liftoff of geothermal heating and cooling technologies.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a new report that highlights pathways for the expansion of geothermal heating and cooling. The full report, “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Geothermal Heating and Cooling,” can be accessed via this link.
The report presents a pathway for the expansion of the domestic geothermal industry in the US specifically in the geothermal heating and cooling sector. These technologies are important but underutilized solutions for supporting a more resilient and efficient national energy system, as well as reducing emissions from buildings. Widespread deployment of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) can help reduce peak electricity demand while also generating savings for both utilities and ratepayers.
Key findings from the Geothermal Heating and Cooling Liftoff report include:
- The proposed pathway to commercial-scale adoption of geothermal heating and cooling technologies relies first on scaling geothermal heat pump (GHP) installations in new constructions through 2035, thereafter increasing the focus on retrofits of existing buildings. New builds present lower barriers for installation but represent a smaller market segment.
- A near-term target of GHP installation in 7 million homes will require an investment between USD 100 – 150 billion of capital. Broad market penetration by 2050 can be achieved by an annual ~10% growth, reaching an equivalent of 36 million homes by 2050. These goals will require a robust GHP workforce growth, more efficient installations, and simplified permitting, certification, and utility rate and incentive programs.
- Tax incentives, utility incentives, and energy savings play a crucial role in helping customers offset the initial cost of GHP systems.
To complement the report, the US DOE will be hosting a webinar on 16 January on the topic of geothermal heating and cooling featuring senior DOE leadership. Click here to register for the webinar.
The release of this Liftoff Report follows the 2024 release of the Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Next-Generation Geothermal Power report and DOE’s 2023 release of an analysis highlighting impacts of mass deployment of GHPs, including the potential to reduce electricity demand by up to 13% by 2050 relative to decarbonizing without GHPs and avoiding as much as 43,500 miles of new transmission lines.
Source: US Department of Energy
