Work

Enhanced geothermal systems electric-resource assessment for the Great Basin, southwestern United States

Year: 2025

Type: report

Abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey recently (2025) completed a provisional assessment of the geothermal-electric resources associated with high-temperature, low-permeability rock formations of the Great Basin, Southwestern United States.If sufficient technological advances to commercialize enhanced geothermal systems occur, then a current best provisional estimate for electric-power generation capacity of 135 gigawatts electric are available from the upper 6 kilometers of the Earth's crust.This estimate is a potential substantial increase of the installed geothermal electricity-generating capacity from <1 to 10 percent of current total U.S. power production capacity.

Source: Fact sheet

DOI: 10.3133/fs20253027

Authors: Erick R. Burns, Colin Williams, Jacob DeAngelo

Language: English

Topic: Geothermal Energy Systems and Applications

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: U.S. Geological Survey

OpenAlex ID: W4410614121

Cites: 1

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10