This RFI requests feedback from capital providers (Venture Capital, Angel Investors, Financial Institutions, etc.) and adjacent organizations (Incubators, Accelerators, Venture Studios, etc.) as well as industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on investment in technologies identified below...
Note: This is an AI-generated summary...
Summary
This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) to gauge investor interest in the development and commercialization of subsurface energy technologies. This is not a funding opportunity and the DOE is not accepting applications. The purpose is to gather feedback from stakeholders, particularly the financial sector, on connecting private capital with industry opportunities across HGEO's core areas: Coal, Oil & Gas, and Geothermal. The RFI seeks to understand how to bridge the 'valley of death' for capital-intensive technologies, potentially by leveraging public-private partnerships like the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) program. Specific technology areas of interest include modular LNG, critical mineral recovery from oilfield brines and coal byproducts, enhanced oil recovery, advanced geothermal systems, powerplant modernization, and the application of AI and advanced sensors. The RFI poses questions to capital providers and technology developers regarding investment strategies, risk tolerance, technology readiness levels (TRLs), and financial barriers.
Overall Technical Areas
Subsurface Diagnostic ToolsEnhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)Edge Computing & AI ModelsModular Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) SystemsProduced Water TreatmentCritical Mineral ExtractionWellbore Integrity TechnologiesRobotic Inspection ToolingGeothermal Reservoir CharacterizationHigh-Temperature Drilling TechnologiesAdvanced Thermodynamic CyclesCoal-to-Product ConversionPower Plant Emission ControlIntegrated Energy Storage SystemsHarsh Environment Materials
Probable LBNL Areas
BSACSAEESAESAETAPSA
Focus Areas
Example Priorities:
Develop low-footprint, high-efficiency components for micro- to small-scale LNG systems (e.g., optimized micro-channel heat exchangers, modular Boil-Off Gas recovery systems, and high-efficiency compressors) and targeted thermodynamic modeling software to improve liquefaction efficiency without requiring facility-scale capital.
Engineer novel non-destructive testing sensors, robotic internal inspection tooling (smart pigs), and high-durability internal coatings for midstream applications.
Design and validate bench-to-pilot scale compact, skid-mounted treatment technologies for produced water, including high-selectivity sorbents targeting extraction of critical minerals from high-TDS oilfield brines.
Synthesize novel chemical surfactants, nanomaterials, or particulate tracers and develop high-resolution reservoir simulation software to optimize sweep efficiency and enhanced carbon dioxide (CO2) EOR in mature reservoirs.
Engineer low-power, plug-and-play wireless sensor nodes and targeted machine learning algorithms (e.g., predictive maintenance modules) that can be integrated into existing SCADA systems.
Develop modular waste-heat recovery systems, high-efficiency micro-turbines, and intelligent microgrid control software to electrify remote well-pad operations.
Develop advanced solutions for wellbore integrity and intervention, including cement evaluation, casing inspection, leak detection, plug integrity, and low-cost remediation tools.
Technologies for advanced exploration and reservoir characterization in geothermal energy, including high-resolution fracture imaging, geochemical modeling, and multi-physics/AI-enabled data integration.
Advancements in high-temperature drilling and well construction, such as automated control logic, harsh-environment materials, high-temperature electronics/telemetry, and improved wellbore-stability solutions.
Develop technologies to increase permeability and enhance long-term productivity in enhanced geothermal systems through advanced materials, proppants, and flow-control systems.
Develop systems and technologies for coal-fired powerplant modernization, reliability, and life extension.
Develop technologies focused on critical minerals and materials recovery from coal and coal combustion residuals.
Develop systems (possibly coupled with AI or advanced models) for power plant optimization and increased efficiency in coal facilities.
Develop technologies capable of economically treating regulated waste streams from coal-electric generation facilities to enable enhanced recovery of water and other commercial byproducts.
Specific Technical Skills:
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)Thermodynamic ModelingMaterials ScienceNondestructive TestingRoboticsWater Treatment TechnologiesCritical Mineral ExtractionReservoir EngineeringEnhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)Machine LearningEdge ComputingSCADA SystemsWaste Heat RecoveryMicrogrid ControlsWellbore IntegrityGeothermal ExplorationHigh-Temperature DrillingReservoir StimulationPower Plant EngineeringEmissions Control
CSA | SciData | Data Science Research · Machine Learning
Ronald Cohen
0.72
ETA | Energy Analysis | Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Emissions Control
Example Priorities:
Develop modular waste-heat recovery systems (e.g., Organic Rankine Cycle systems under one megawatt), high-efficiency micro-turbines utilizing field gas, and intelligent microgrid control software designed to electrify remote well-pad operations.
Integrate systems including modular power, waste-heat recovery, microgrid controls, and automation for well pads and small facilities.
Solutions including geothermal-integrated energy storage, data-center and industrial-heat integration, streamlined permitting and regulatory processes, advanced grid valuation/offtake tools, and AI-driven data and visualization systems for development optimization.
Advanced Electric Generation Designs: Systems featuring improved fuel and operational flexibility.
Integrated Energy Storage Systems: Systems that integrate with coal-electric generation facilities to increase capacity factors.
Integrated Energy-Water Campuses: Reliable power, low-cost cooling, and proximity to existing industrial infrastructure to position coal communities as competitive data-center hosts.
Integration Opportunities with Data Centers: Coal-mine water and geothermal resources that, together, create sustainable, cooperative energy-water infrastructure.
ETA | Energy Analysis | Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Industrial Heat Integration
Scott Moura
0.74
ETA | ESDR | Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Energy Storage Systems
Douglas Black
0.74
ETA | ESDR | Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Microgrid Controls
Hongyou Lu
0.74
ETA | Building Tech. & Urban Sys. | Bldg & Industrial App Dpt · Waste Heat Recovery
Ronal Kumar
0.73
CSA | NERSC | Data Center Department · Data Center Integration
Shankar Earni
0.73
ETA | Building Tech. & Urban Sys. | Bldg & Industrial App Dpt · Process Automation
Juan Pablo Carvallo
0.72
ETA | Energy Analysis | Energy Markets & Planning · Grid Valuation
Cynthia Regnier
0.72
ETA | Building Tech. & Urban Sys. | Whole Building Sys Dept · Systems Integration
Anna Giannakou
0.71
CSA | SciData | Data Science Applications · AI-driven Optimization
Example Priorities:
Design and validate bench-to-pilot scale compact, skid-mounted treatment technologies (e.g., advanced membrane materials, selective electrodialysis, or low-energy thermal Evaporators) and high-selectivity sorbents targeting extraction of critical minerals (e.g., lithium) from high-TDS oilfield brines.
Develop analytics and treatment solutions including real-time water quality sensors, treatment optimization software, mineral recovery, and fit-for-purpose reuse of produced water.
Technologies focused on critical minerals and materials recovery from coal and coal combustion residuals.
Processes for non-fuel coal-to-materials or product conversion.
Technologies capable of economically treating regulated waste streams from coal-electric generation facilities (e.g., wastewater, ash, CO2) to enable enhanced recovery of water and other commercial byproducts (e.g. cement additives, fertilizer, critical minerals, oil and gas through CO2-EOR).
Specific Technical Skills:
Critical Mineral ExtractionProduced Water TreatmentMaterials RecoveryCoal Conversion ChemistryWaste Stream ValorizationCircular Economy PrinciplesReal-time SensingSorbent TechnologyMembrane ScienceElectrodialysis
Potential PIs for this Area:
Name
Score
Organization
Nawa Raj Baral
0.75
BSA | Biological Systems & Engineering | Process Engr & Analytics · Waste Stream Valorization
Xiong Peng
0.74
ETA | ESDR | Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Electrodialysis
William Stringfellow
0.74
EESA | EG | Geochemistry Dept · Produced Water Treatment
Ramkrishna Singh
0.74
BSA | Biological Systems & Engineering | Process Engr & Analytics · Waste Stream Valorization
Margaret Busse
0.74
EESA | EG | Geochemistry Dept · Critical Mineral Extraction
Nihan Karali
0.74
ETA | Energy Analysis | Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Circular Economy Principles
Henry Jiang
0.72
ESA | MSD | Material Chemistry · Sorbent Technology
Joelle Frechette
0.72
ETA | ESDR | Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Membrane Science
Ji Su
0.71
ETA | ESDR | Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Coal Conversion Chemistry
Prabal Dutta
0.71
ETA | Building Tech. & Urban Sys. | Bldg Technologies Dept · Real-time Sensing
Example Priorities:
Midstream Sensor and Materials Innovation: Engineer novel non-destructive testing sensors, robotic internal inspection tooling (smart pigs), and high-durability internal coatings.
Edge-Computing Sensors, Controls, and Agile Artificial Intelligence (AI) Models: Engineer low-power, plug-and-play wireless sensor nodes and targeted machine learning algorithms (e.g., predictive maintenance modules for specific assets such as reciprocating compressors or artificial lift systems).
Wellbore Integrity and Intervention Technologies: Develop advanced solutions including cement evaluation, casing inspection, leak detection, plug integrity, and low-cost remediation tools.
Pipeline and Compression Reliability: Develop engineering solutions including corrosion monitoring, compressor optimization, predictive maintenance, and inspection robotics.
Next-Generation Power Plant and Surface-Facility Performance: Improvements including plant repowering, advanced thermodynamic cycles and working fluids, parasitic-load reduction, and enhanced scaling and corrosion mitigation systems.
Powerplant Modernization and Reliability: Systems and technologies for coal-fired powerplant modernization, reliability, and life extension.
ONHS Funding Opportunity Report