A Technoeconomic, Policy, and Regulation Assessment of an Integrated Campus Geothermal Energy System

Abstract

As part of the Department of Energy's Geothermal Collegiate Competition, the policy team developed a technoeconomic feasibility study of a geothermal energy system at the RELLIS campus of the Texas A&M University System, and developed the policy, regulatory and funding narrative to potentially build it. This paper and presentation will describe a geothermal energy system, centered around reusing current hydrocarbon wells on the campus and expanding their capabilities with additional boreholes, integrated into a campus wide thermal energy network that provides heating and cooling. The focus of the system integration is cost effectiveness, reliability and predictability of thermal energy supply. The policy and regulatory frameworks are also examined to provide the narrative necessary to permit and install such a system. Finally, engagement activities with the surrounding communities and the towns of Bryan and College Station are developed to quantify and develop community support. Numerous feasibility studies have been conducted of various campuses, but this is one of the first studies that explicitly couples the policy and regulatory framework with the technical design and development.