New Report Illuminates Geothermal Cooling Potential in Hawaii - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica reports on a collaborative study between the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s ETIPP program. The research focuses on the feasibility of geothermal cooling technologies in Hawaii, leveraging the islands’ unique geology—recent volcanic activity and highly permeable volcanic rock—which enables substantial groundwater flow essential for ground heat exchanger (GHE) systems. Unlike high-temperature geothermal that requires deep drilling to generate electricity, low-temperature geothermal systems near the surface can be used for building heating and cooling, potentially reducing electric grid loads in Hawaii, where cooling demand dominates. The study distinguishes between open-loop and closed-loop GHE systems. Open-loop systems use groundwater directly to transfer heat, requiring sufficient groundwater flow to remove heat and maintain system efficiency. Hawaii’s cooling-dominated climate means GHEs add heat to the subsurface, so groundwater flow is critical to prevent system failure. Closed-loop systems,