41 NOVEMBER 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Sage Geosystems Advances Geothermal Energy at Fort Bliss Adapted from Information by Sage Geosystems Sage Geosystems, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is embarking on an ambitious mission at Fort Bliss in El Paso. Awarded a government contract, Sage aims to create a groundbreaking subterranean power storage system. This innovative setup will allow intermittent renewable energy from solar and wind sources to be stored and discharged for 12 hours or more. Their team has over 150 combined years in the gas and oil industry, with experience delivering major projects. The developer of Geopressured Geothermal Systems (GGS), will begin a geothermal initiative for the U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Sage Geosystems will explore the potential to deploy its proprietary GGS technology to supply clean and secure energy to the base. Additionally, the company will evaluate the potential synergies of hybrid technologies such as direct thermal use, energy storage, and dispatchable power to support cost-effective energy resilience. Fort Bliss is a U.S. Army installation consisting of more than one million acres in New Mexico and Texas, with over 2000 buildings. Fort Bliss envisions 18 wells providing steady power, enough for 10,000 homes. Sage’s work aligns with the Army’s sustainability plan, which includes carbon-pollution-free electricity, hybrid tactical vehicles, and microgrids on every base. Geothermal energy, often dubbed a “million-year energy source,” has the potential to revolutionize the energy system, benefiting communities and contributing to a safer, cleaner, and more affordable future. Sage’s approach involves drilling deep into the ground, creating fractures that serve as reservoirs for water storage. When excess renewable electricity is available, water is pumped downward, effectively turning underground water into an energy battery. When needed, a valve opens, and subsurface pressure propels the water upward, driving turbines to generate electricity. Ken Wisian, associate director of the Environmental Division of Bureau of Economic Geology said, “This is a win-win for the Army and Texas and marks the third geothermal initiative by the Department of Defense in the state. This initiative adds to the momentum of Texas as a leader in the “geothermal anywhere” revolution, leveraging the robust oil and gas industry profile in the state.” Sage demonstrated the ability to deliver cost-effective and commercially viable new generation geothermal with its GGS design in the field. They will commission a three-megawatt commercial EarthStore™ energy storage facility. This initiative supports the U.S. Army Climate Strategy goals of reducing greenhouse gasses. The emerging paradigm of “geothermal anywhere” represents a tremendous opportunity for the Department of Defense, starting with energy independence and resilience of military bases across the world. Geothermal carbon-free microgrids are also scalable, safe, and dispatchable. GEO
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