Indiana High-temperature Geothermal Assessment Paper

Abstract

Tapping high-temperature geothermal energy for power generation in the western United States has been a pursuit of industry and government entities for decades. Exploration for high-temperature geothermal energy resources in Indiana has not been a priority because subsurface temperatures are lower than the threshold required for power generation (> 150 °C, 300 °F). Although a few temperature anomalies have been reported in subsurface sedimentary rocks in Indiana, they do not reach the required temperatures for power generation, and their origins remain poorly understood due to limited information from the deep subsurface; additional testing would be required to verify their existence and characterize them.