Supporting U.S. efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and safeguarding the nation’s military readiness through collaboration with the U.S. Navy.
Fallon FORGE: An EGS Field Laboratory
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) produce energy by injecting and circulating water through fractured rock, then withdrawing the hot water and using it to supply a geothermal power plant. It is dedicated to the advancement of technologies for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) under the US Department of Energy’s FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) initiative.
Resources
Fallon FORGE Fact sheetFallon FORGE FAQ’s
Meets all FORGE selection criteria
Excellent study area for EGS with temperatures greater than 350ºF at depths of about 5,000 feet.
Location
The Fallon FORGE project is located in Churchill County, Nevada. Over 15 sq. miles within and adjacent to the Naval Air Station Fallon (NASF) and Ormat leased area.
Good for Nevada, Good for the Country
EGS could provide more than 100 GW for the American people; the equivalent of 100,000,000 homes.
EGS is a clean and renewable source of domestic energy. The FORGE site will be a unique research and development facility that will develop methods and technologies needed to enable widespread EGS commercialization, increasing our nation’s energy security. Using technologies developed through the FORGE project, EGS has the potential to provide more than 100 gigawatts, enough to power 100,000,000 American homes.
FALLON Site Location
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Bridget Ayling
Fallon, Nevada, a community of approximately 8,600 people located about 60 miles east of Reno, is the county seat of Churchill County. The FORGE site is approximately 7 miles southeast of the City of Fallon, on land within and adjacent to southern part of Naval Air Station Fallon (NASF), as shown in the figure to the right. Home of the US Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, NASF is the Navy’s premier tactical air warfare training center.
The Fallon FORGE website was developed by Sandia National Laboratories with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO).
Site Characteristics
A highly characterized geologic environment.
Abundant data from surface exploration and extensive drilling in the area shows that Fallon has the right rocks and temperatures. Significant geological and environmental characterization has already been completed on Fallon FORGE project land.
Favorable drilling depths.
High temperatures and suitable rock types exist at moderate depths at Fallon, reducing drilling costs and leaving more FORGE funds for R&D and innovative technology.
Significant existing infrastructure.
The area has excellent access, abundant local drilling experience, and existing wells that will be used to support FORGE. In addition, there is an existing US Navy-installed microseismic monitoring system (recently upgraded for FORGE) that provides real-time monitoring.
A strong focus on community involvement & transparency.
The Fallon FORGE Team is actively working with the Fallon community to inform and educate them about the value of EGS generally and FORGE R&D specifically, and engage them in the Fallon FORGE project.
No impact on sources of drinking or agricultural water.
EGS drilling and testing activities will use water supplied by existing geothermal wells that produce highly mineralized fluids unsuitable for drinking water or irrigation.
Participating landowners.
The Fallon FORGE site is comprised of lands owned by the US Navy and areas leased to Ormat Nevada, Inc. by the US Bureau of Land Management, and all are engaged in making Fallon FORGE a reality.