ENVITRACE LLC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: C54-07c

Description

Statement of the problem: For effective and equitable outcomes in achieving the national goal of net-zero carbon emissions, communities must be included and even lead the implementation of innovative green-energy technologies. Collaborations with communities should happen through informed decision making, community-centered research, and engagement of stakeholders at the local, state, and regional levels. Geothermal, like many new technologies whose social and economic impacts are not fully understood, often cause disproportionately high adverse effects on disadvantaged communities. Objective of the Phase I project: Our goal is to actively engage disadvantaged communities to develop a novel web-based interactive software toolbox that provides everything needed for communities to better understand and develop their geothermal resources. We will bridge the gap between technology advancements and community needs by facilitating the interactions between the geothermal industry, regulators, stakeholders, and end-users. What is to be done in Phase I: We will develop a Community Engagement Plan that will be designed to actively engage disadvantaged communities to represent their needs, expectations, and concerns regarding geothermal resource development and utilization. Our work will merge data, computational tools, knowledge, expertise, and experience. Our novel software will expand the capabilities of existing tools developed by us and others for data analytics, uncertainty quantification, sensitivity/decision analyses, cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Communities will not need to start at ground zero each time they wish to improve the lives of their members if comprehensive and fail-safe tools that include data knowledge, experience, and research are embedded early in the process. Our work will provide fast processing and dissemination of geothermal information to users and communities. Acknowledging the Justice40 Initiative, 40% of wages under this project are dedicated to members of unprivileged communities. The social benefits of community-focused and enhanced geothermal development and utilization are nearly infinite. Our novel technology will help create high-quality jobs and help deliver affordable, carbon pollution free energy across the country. Consequently, social justice and environmental improvements are expected. By facilitating successful and cost-effective geothermal development, the indirect benefit includes a potential yet significant contribution toward the national goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Our product will also help communities and businesses to apply for funding resulting in more sustainable and efficient opportunities and enabling communities to maximize economic benefits and revenue that promote more sustainable outcomes. Our Community Engagement Plan will provide tools for sustained and meaningful community engagement, thereby improving environmental and procedural justice for community stakeholders in the geothermal system design and development process. It will also provide communities with the tools to maximize economic outcomes and wealth building as a direct benefit of the technology deployment. Our novel technology will provide advancements for planning with justice-focused outcomes ranging from community benefits to the local workforce and businesses.