Trip to the GreenFire Energy Demonstration in Coso, CA, 2019
Research Partners
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
GreenFire Energy is teaming with EPRI on a substantial research grant.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
LBNL is one of the world’s best-known centers for modeling of complex geothermal systems, having developed the widely used “TOUGH2” reservoir model. LBNL performed essential research for GreenFire Energy to determine the rate of thermal depletion for closed-loop systems and the effect of convective heat on power generation. In addition, GreenFire Energy has made extensive use of the modeling by LBNL’s Karsten Pruess and Tianfu Xu, who predicted and quantified the superior properties of CO2 for geothermal energy.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
LLNL is the premier research laboratory for analyzing the effects of explosive devices. With funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, LLNL performed a study for GreenFire Energy to explore the possibility of creating subterranean chambers with small explosive devices to facilitate joining geothermal wells.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
NREL selected GreenFire Energy as one of ten companies to appear in its “Emerging Markets Day” conference in May 2019, where GreenFire was awarded best company. NREL subsequently teamed with GreenFire Energy on an ARPA-E grant solicitation.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
The DOE is responsible for more research in the physical sciences than any other Federal agency. Much of this research is conducted by the 17 National Laboratories. GreenFire Energy was awarded a $2.0 million grant to investigate the potential for using sCO2 as the working fluid in a geothermal resource located in St. John’s Dome, Arizona.
Funding Partners
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is an energy technology company and led GreenFire Energy’s Series A financing round.
California Energy Commission (CEC)
The CEC awarded $2.7 million to install GreenFire Energy’s Steam Dominated GreenLoop (SDGL) technology at The Geysers geothermal field. The CEC had previously provided $1.48 million to help fund GreenFire Energy’s demonstration of closed-loop geothermal technology using water and sCO2 as alternate working fluids at Coso, CA, USA.
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
EPRI was an active participant in GreenFire Energy’s demonstration project and was instrumental in finding project partners.
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. is a global leader in rig technologies and drilling solutions and invested in GreenFire Energy’s Series A financing round.
J-POWER of Japan
J-POWER is one of Japan’s largest utilities and generates power from a variety of technologies including geothermal. J-POWER contributed partial funding for the demonstration.
Shell Global
GreenFire Energy became a Shell Global “GameChanger” company in 2017 as GreenLoop technology was considered as being a potentially strategic technology for Shell. Shell then chose to provide partial funding for GreenFire Energy’s demonstration of closed-loop geothermal technology at Coso, CA USA.
Key Engineering Firms and Consultants
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is an energy technology company. GreenFire Energy worked closely with Baker Hughes to develop a sophisticated well cost model for closed-loop geothermal projects.
Blade Energy Partners
Blade Energy Partners provides advanced engineering services for the upstream energy industry. GreenFire Energy retained Blade Energy to confirm its internal thermodynamic models. GreenFire Energy has obtained an exclusive license to several Blade Energy patents pertaining to closed-loop geothermal systems
Geothermal Solutions, Inc
GreenFire Energy obtained geochemical and other technical advice on various geothermal Well Retrofit opportunities.
Manuel Weyman Group
Manual Weyman helps GreenFire Energy design well retrofit projects.
Reaction Engineering
Reaction Engineering performed a detailed computer modeling analysis to prove that sCO2 will create a thermosiphon within specified well conditions.
Veizades and Associates
Veizades performs geothermal engineering projects in many countries. The company performed engineering and project management work for the Coso demonstration project.