ORGANIZATIONS

ONLINE RESOURCES

ORGANIZATIONS

Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory
The SMU Geothermal Lab has received a two-year grant from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) for geothermal outreach and networking, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) GeoPowering the West program. This site offers extensive information about heat flow, temperature logging, geothermal resource assessments, maps, databases and education.

Geothermal Energy In Texas
A University of Texas Permian Basin web site.

Geothermal In West Texas
A University of Texas Permian Basin web site.

Geothermal Energy In Gulf Coast Texas
A University of Texas Permian Basin web site.

Renewable Energy Vendors & Services
SECO does not link directly to vendors, but you can visit the Texas Renewable Energy Industry Association web site and select the Search Our Members tab. There you can search by the type of renewable energy that interests you. You can also find vendor contact information on the Texas Solar Energy Society web site and select the Find Vendors link for their database of vendors who provide products or services related to renewable energy. Of course, when talking with a vendor, always be sure to ask for references.

Geothermal Education Office
The Geothermal Education Office is sponsored by DOE. The web site gives an introductory tutorial of geothermal energy concepts. It includes a good map of the world tectonic plates, with underlying descriptions of known areas of geothermal activity in each plate.

Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA)
TREIA is a statewide non-profit organization that represents over 200 member companies, organizations, agencies and individuals that provide renewable energy products, services and information, and sustainable (green) building design and construction.

DOE Geothermal Technologies Program
This DOe program works in partnership with U.S. industry to establish geothermal energy as an economically competitive contributor to the U.S. energy supply.

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
Headquartered at the Oklahoma State University, IGSHPA utilizes state-of-the-art facilities for conducting GSHP system installation training and geothermal research.

Geothermal Energy Association
GEA is a trade association of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses.

Geothermal Biz
Geothermal Biz is part of DOEs GeoPowering the West program, designed to increase geothermal energy use in 19 states in the western United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. The program was created to help geothermal entrepreneurs-companies, small businesses, Native American tribes, homeowners and individuals to develop geothermal direct use and small power generation projects.

Geothermal Resources Council
The GRC serves as a focal point for continuing professional development for its members through its outreach, information transfer and education services.

Geothermal Energy Research
The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) Geothermal Program works in partnership with U.S. industry to establish geothermal energy as an economically competitive contributor to the U.S. energy supply. Since 1974, the INEEL has been a key laboratory in executing the DOE's Geothermal Program.

U.S. Geological Survey

International Geothermal Association

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
The Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium's aim is to increase awareness of geoexchange technology. Geoexchange technology is a technique which relies primarily on the earth's natural thermal energy to heat and cool houses or multi-family dwellings.

GeoHeat Center (Low Temperature Uses of Geothermal Water and Heat)
The Geo-Heat Center's resources are available to the public, through DOE grants. Information developed through firsthand experience with hundreds of projects and through extensive research is provided to individuals, organizations or companies involved in geothermal development. This web site has an extensive list of downloadable papers and articles.

ONLINE RESOURCES

How an Enhanced Geothermal System Works
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) interactive animation.

Geothermal Glossary
A Geothermal Education Office web page. Also see this DOE Geothermal Glossary.

Looking for geothermal energy photos?
Go to this DOE site, PIX: The Photographic Information Exchange for an on-line collection of several thousand photos related to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. All photos are free and for public use.

2007 Guide to Geothermal Energy & The Environment
This is a report by the Geothermal Energy Association.

Texas Geothermal Resources
Reference: Integration of Geothermal Data along the Balcones/Ouachita Trend, Central Texas, 1983. Woodruff, Gever, Snyder, and Wuerch.

The Future of Geothermal Energy: The Impact of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) on the United States in the 21st Century (1/24/07)
This comprehensive new MIT-led study of the potential for geothermal energy within the United States appears on a U. S. Department of Energy web site.

U.S. Geothermal Market Report
This is a report on U.S. Geothermal Energy, which was released in September 2007 by Glitner, a Nordic financial group that considers the U.S. to be at the forefront of geothermal energy development. The report estimates that there is a realistic potential to increase U.S. geothermal power production by a factor of six and calculates that an investment of $39.4 billion is needed between now and 2025.

Unconventional Geothermal Energy and the U.S. Energy Supply
A 2007 report by Professor David Blackwell, Director of Southern Methodist University's Geothermal Lab in Texas.

Geopowering Texas: Conversion of Deep Gas Wells and Fields into Geothermal Energy Wells
This is a SECO-commissioned study performed by the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The three-year exploration and resource research project focused on West Texas, identifying and assessing potential sites for converting depleted deep gas wells and fields into geothermal energy wells to generate renewable electrical power.

Assessment of Geothermal Resource Development Needs in the Western U. S.
This is a January 2007 DOE-funded study prepared by the Geothermal Energy Association.

Geothermal - The Energy Under Our Feet
A 2006 geothermal resource estimate for the United States by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Geothermal Small Business Workbook
The FREE Geothermal Small Business Workbook, in conjunction with the Geothermal Money Book (PDF), give geothermal entrepreneurs, small businesses, and developers the tools and information they need to understand geothermal applications (direct use and small-scale power generation), write a business and financing plan, and locate and obtain financing. Read more about these books at this Geothermal Biz web site.

Connecting to the Grid Guide 2007
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has published a new edition of its Connecting to the Grid guide. The fifth edition of this guide, published in July 2007, addresses new and lingering interconnection issues that are relevant to all distributed generation technologies, including renewables, fuel cells, microturbines, and reciprocating engines. Because the interconnection of small distributed generators remains largely in the domain of states, the guide targets state regulators, other government officials, and utility representatives.

Geothermal Exploration and Drilling
Learn what the National Laboratories are doing to assist the geothermal industry in finding and operating geothermal fields by developing a more thorough understanding of known geothermal resources and new innovative techniques for finding "hidden" geothermal systems. (Powerpoint)

Texas Renewable Energy Resource Assessment
This SECO study evaluates Texas renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, biomass, water, geothermal and building climatology. The report includes numerous maps and charts.

U.S. Geothermal History

Texas Geothermal Fact Sheet

Geothermal Direct Use for Farmers and Ranchers
This DOE web site offers resources about the direct use of geothermal energy and its applications on farms and ranches.

Geothermal Heat Pumps for Farmers and Ranchers
This DOE web site offers resources on how to install a geothermal heat pump on a farm or ranch.

Ground-Source Heat Pump Project Model Software
This software can be used world-wide to easily evaluate the energy production (or savings), life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for the heating and/or cooling of residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. The model can be used to evaluate both retrofit and new construction projects using either ground-coupled (horizontal and vertical closed-loop) or groundwater heat pumps.

Geothermal Slide Show
A Geothermal Education Office site.

Geothermal Virtual Tour
Take a geothermal energy field tripófrom the depths of the Earth through the turbine of a modern geothermal electric generation plant. The tour begins with a dramatic look at geothermal resources far beneath the surface of the Earth. Next, the tour shows how these resources are brought to the surface and converted into steam, how the steam is used to spin turbines and generate electricity, and how the unused fluid is returned to the earth to sustain the geothermal resource.

National Geothermal Collaborative
Identifies issues that impede the use of geothermal power, establishes dialogue among key stakeholders, and catalyzes appropriate activities to overcome obstacles to appropriate development

Geothermal Biz.com
Helps geothermal entrepreneurs - companies, small businesses, Native American tribes, homeowners, and individuals - develop geothermal direct-use and small power generation projects. Geothermal-biz.com is part of the U.S. Department of Energy-led GeoPowering the West effort.

International Geothermal Association
Works to encourage research, development, and utilization of geothermal resources worldwide through the compilation, publication, and dissemination of scientific, technical data and information.

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
Promotes the use of ground source heat pump technology worldwide through education and communication.

Geysers Geothermal Association
Addresses geothermal industry-related issues at The Geysers, and promotes the public's understanding of the positive contribution the industry makes to Lake and Sonoma counties, and the State of California.

Small Geothermal Power Project Examples
Provided by the Geo-Heat Center.

Geo-Heat Center: Geothermal Information and Technology Transfer
An Oregon Institute of Technology site.

Geothermal Ground Source (Coupled) Heat Pumps Information
A Texas Geothermal Outreach and Networking web site.

Geothermal Materials for Teachers
A Texas Geothermal Outreach and Networking web site.

Heat Pump Basics: Heating and Cooling the House

Ask an Expert!
This DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Information Center answers questions on EERE's products, services, and technology programs, refers callers to the most appropriate EERE resources, and refers qualified callers to the appropriate expert networks.

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