The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) runs a Data, Modeling, and Analysis (DMA) program that helps collect, review, and share data about geothermal energy. This program supports the need for teamwork and accurate information in the geothermal field.

Growing the use of geothermal energy in the U.S. depends on having strong data and working together. Details about every part of geothermal work—from checking resources and drilling to understanding project costs and timelines—are important. This information helps to find and fix problems, measure progress in the field, and guide where research should go.

The DMA program also looks at issues that aren’t technical but still affect how geothermal projects move forward. These include getting permits, watching market changes, studying regulations and the effects of technology, spotting good methods, and figuring out funding needs for future geothermal research and development.

GTO focuses on making data available to people who need it—like researchers, energy companies, universities, lenders, utilities, and policymakers. Every project that receives GTO funding must upload its data to the Geothermal Data Repository so the public can use it. Each project must also provide a Final Technical Report, which is posted on OSTI.gov once the project ends.

Access to Data and Other Resources

• All Data, Tools, and Technical Materials
• Bureau of Land Management Geothermal Guidelines
• Geothermal Data Repository (GDR)
• U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.gov)
• U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
• Geothermal Research Publications
• GeoVision Study
• Geothermal Project Permitting Information
• Regulatory and Permitting Toolkit (RAPID)

DMA Program Goals and Projects

The Geoanalysis Initiative

The DMA team started the Geoanalysis Initiative to improve its ability to carry out short-term and long-term studies. These studies look at how geothermal energy is valued, used, and how the costs stack up. This type of work is similar to studies done by other renewable energy offices within the Department of Energy.

The goal of this initiative is to encourage better teamwork and make sure geothermal energy is included more in planning tools used for major energy decisions. One of the aims is to build a set of tools that help model and understand how geothermal energy fits into the bigger energy picture. GTO especially wants to develop tools that help measure geothermal energy’s value and cost in both power production and energy use.

This effort also led to a complete update of how the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows geothermal in its energy models and tools. These models are used for important research studies. Thanks to this work, geothermal energy is now better represented in almost every major NREL model. This helps more people understand geothermal’s potential and allows the technology to be included in wider energy plans.

Understanding Costs and Grid Impacts of Geothermal Heat Pumps

In 2023, the DMA program worked with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and NREL to study how using geothermal heat pumps across the country would affect the electric grid. Their report showed that using these systems more widely could greatly reduce electricity use and the need to build out the grid.

The Geothermal Data Repository (GDR)

The Geothermal Data Repository is a free online place where people can access data from GTO-funded projects. This system supports researchers, energy planners, companies, and anyone else interested in geothermal. It holds data from every part of geothermal research and development.

Since it began, the GDR has gathered a huge amount of data—measured in terabytes—and made it available to the public. This has helped grow geothermal research and serves as a good example for other data systems. By January 2025, the GDR had more than 14,000 users and stored over 287 terabytes of data, up from only 10 gigabytes in 2012. Downloads have reached over 17.7 million.

NREL created special “data pipelines” that recognize and format high-value datasets so they match industry standards as soon as they are uploaded. This process started with drilling data, geospatial information, and seismic data. These tools automatically apply the right structure to submitted data, which saves time and lets project teams focus on their work. This also improves how much useful geothermal data is available to everyone.

Other Projects and Planning Tools

The DMA program uses data to help shape GTO’s research direction. Two major planning documents guide this work:

1. The 2019 GeoVision analysis, which outlines geothermal’s possible growth through 2050.

2. The GTO Multi-Year Program Plan for 2022–2026, which lays out a long-term plan for research and development that supports geothermal’s role in homes, buildings, and the power grid.

The DMA team works to improve tools and resources that help people understand geothermal’s impact, learn about regulatory needs, and keep up with new developments in the field.

Other DMA projects include:

• Federal Geothermal Partnerships: This project works with the Federal Energy Management Program to offer technical help, create accurate models, and write clear reports ready for use in real-world projects.
  
• Community Engagement in Hawaii and Alaska: Work with state and local groups to understand energy needs, how geothermal might help, and what federal funding could support these communities.
  
• University of Vermont Project: A tool to help communities understand what it means to use energy that they produce themselves.
  
• Geothermal Power and District Heating Market Report: A study on where geothermal power is ready to grow and where there are good chances for new technology.

Geothermal Project Permitting

GTO’s DMA program helped lead a task force with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to bring together many federal and state groups. The goal was to look at challenges and opportunities in geothermal permitting. Their work produced a report with their findings. GTO and BLM are still working together to improve how permits for geothermal projects are handled on public lands.

The 2019 GeoVision study and a related task force report looked closely at the rules and timelines that affect geothermal projects. Their models show that with changes—like a faster process for drilling permits and a central permitting office—conventional geothermal power capacity could grow to over 12 gigawatts by 2050. That’s more than double the growth expected under current conditions.

Geothermal Hybrid Energy Projects

To explore new ways to grow geothermal energy use, GTO funded five lab studies on hybrid geothermal projects. These projects mix geothermal with other energy sources to improve performance and create new paths for development.

• Idaho National Laboratory: Looked at combining solar and geothermal power plants.
• NREL: Studied storing solar heat in geothermal reservoirs using heat pumps.
• Brookhaven National Laboratory: Worked on special cement materials and modeling tools for high-temperature heat storage.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Studied using geothermal for data centers.
• NREL: Also worked on the EXERGETIC project for hybrid energy systems

Research on Non-Technical Barriers

The DMA program funded research to look at challenges to geothermal energy that are not related to technology. These studies resulted in four reports:

• Salton Sea Geothermal Development: Nontechnical Barriers to Entry
• Non-Technical Barriers to Geothermal in California and Nevada (with a fact sheet)
• Economic Impact of Permitting Delays in California, Nevada, and Utah
• Mind the Gap: A report comparing the value of geothermal to wind, solar, and solar-plus-storage in the western U.S

Conclusion

The Data, Modeling, and Analysis (DMA) program plays a critical role in shaping the future of geothermal energy in the United States. By ensuring open access to accurate, well-organized, and standardized data, the program empowers researchers, policymakers, and industry experts to make informed decisions that drive innovation. The DMA’s collaborative approach—working with national laboratories, universities, and government agencies—helps bridge the gap between research and real-world application. This not only strengthens the foundation of geothermal development but also encourages transparency, efficiency, and shared progress across the renewable energy sector.

Looking ahead, the DMA program’s continued focus on integrating geothermal data into national energy models and exploring hybrid solutions positions it as a key driver in achieving the country’s clean energy goals. By addressing both technical and non-technical challenges, it ensures that geothermal energy remains a viable and competitive option within the broader energy landscape. As data access grows and analytical tools advance, the geothermal community will be better equipped to unlock new opportunities, streamline development, and expand the role of geothermal energy in building a sustainable, low-carbon future.