43 SEPTEMBER 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® PPPL Finished Drilling Geothermal Wells Adapted from Information by PPPL The campus of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) had a distinct appearance last winter compared to the previous year. Geothermal wells will serve as a heating and cooling source for PPPL’s first new building in decades, the Princeton Plasma Innovation Center (PPIC). “This has been a fantastic launch to the project,” said Tim Meyer, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director for operations. “It’s an exciting time, and we’re looking forward to PPIC’s completion in 2027.” Contractors initially used drill rigs to create the wells, which have a diameter of six inches. Subsequently, they installed U-bend piping and injected the holes with a specialized grout to safeguard a set of pipes within the wall. This grout also facilitates the conduction of heat between the piping and the ground. Each of the approximately 70 wells will be connected through underground pipes to form a geoexchange system. This system will contribute to providing approximately two-thirds of the heating and cooling for the new building. “You have these bores with the tubing going in and out, then the earth itself acts as a heat sink in the summer and a heat source in the winter,” said Michael Starkey, an Energy Manager in PPPL’s Facilities & Site Services Department. “It pulls heat out of the building in the summer, injecting it into the ground. In the winter, you’re able to pull the heat out of the ground.” The PPIC building boasts numerous unique features that will significantly reduce its operational costs. These features include enhanced and natural lighting, new mechanical systems, passive shading to cool the building, and electric boilers for hot water. Princeton University, which manages PPPL on behalf of the DOE, has invested millions of dollars in geoexchange systems for new construction projects across its main campus. The upcoming phase of the project involves constructing a concrete foundation. The PPPL envisions the PPIC as an iconic building which will serve as the town center of the campus. Spanning 68,000 square feet, the U-shaped building, meticulously designed by the renowned SmithGroup, will provide ample laboratory space and offices for a significant portion of PPPL’s researchers, as well as support staff. The lab has expanded its mission and expertise in plasma beyond developing fusion energy by contributing to fields such as microelectronic and quantum sensors and devices. “It’s awesome,” said Steve Langish, Project Director. “It’s very exciting to see the progress on the project. PPIC has a good safety record, and we’re right on schedule.” A geothermal drill rig makes wells 500 feet into the ground at PPPL. Photo courtesy of Michael Livingston / PPPL Communications Department. GEO
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