The heat of the earth is a vast untapped resource that could be used to heat not just homes but entire communities. Heating exceeds 20% of fossil fuel consumption across northern tiers of North America, Europe, Asia, and we need a low-carbon alternative. Shifting to electrical sources is not an efficient solution.

Cornell University plans to do this through a project known as Earth Source Heat. Engineers at Cornell University are planning to utilize geothermal heat from intermediate temperature rocks (60-100°C) as a source of direct-use energy. This is a significant part of Cornell’s overall aims to achieve Carbon Neutrality, covering up to 45% of energy usage at the university.

As the federal land-grant institution in New York State, Cornell has a responsibility—unique within the Ivy League—to make contributions in all fields of knowledge in a manner that prioritizes public engagement to help improve the quality of life in our state, the nation, the world. Cornell considers its campus a “Living Lab” and along with other projects like a Biofuel facility, and a Lake Source Cooling Facility, the University aims to be the proving ground for the future of energy solution.

In achieving this goal, researchers will be combining basic geophysical research with applied knowledge. The subsurface properties, conditions and behaviors are the key challenges in geothermal heat extraction at this scale - the same properties, conditions and behaviors that frontier earth researchers are working on.

Based on an analysis of archived geological data and the technology needed for surface infrastructure suggest that Earth Source Heat could be not only low carbon but also highly economical. The next step is direct sampling and measurement to ensure subsurface matches these predictions. A test site for a borehole has been determined and the aim is to begin drilling in 2021.

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