Geothermal Academy
PurposeThe Geothermal Academy (GA) intends to become the hub for the networked community of existing and future geothermal projects and institutional programs. Working in partnership with scientific and institutional leaders, the GA will coordinate and conduct geothermal research projects targeted towards the advancement of geothermal applications. In addition, the GA will develop comprehensive educational programs that will be implemented at both K-12 and college levels, including community college workforce development programs. As a hub for geothermal projects, the Geothermal Academy will provide access to centralized storage, updates, and analysis of standardized project information. This is envisioned to enable improved design decisions by geothermal professionals, the development of comprehensive policies and incentives at the local and national levels, and general education and marketing to the consumer population.
Mission
The mission of the Geothermal Academy is to promote the advancement and widespread adoption of geothermal technologies through academic research, educational programs, and dissemination of global project information and analytics.
Current Status
The GA became a funded entity as of December 2009. The goal of the first project is to design a centralized system that will enable the collection, storage, update, and analysis of ground source heat pump installation and performance data. Analyses and dissemination of this data (e.g. economic, environmental, system characterization, maintenance) will promote common understanding among industry professionals, effective advocacy for policy and incentive development, and informed decision-making among the consumer population. The project is a one-year project that is scheduled to begin in January 2010 and complete in January 2011. The core project team consists of a public-private collaboration among Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado at Boulder, Center for Energy and Environmental Security, and Certified Green Consulting.
Geothermal Academy Personnel