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Final Report - Earth Source Heat: A Cascaded Systems Approach to DDU of Geothermal Energy on the Cornell Campus

Published by Cornell University | Department of Energy | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2020-09-15T21:12:52Z
The purpose of this document is to describe the contents contained within Geothermal Data Repository (GDR) node of the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) that serves as the final report for the project "Earth Source Heat: A Cascaded Systems Approach to DDU of Geothermal Energy on the Cornell Campus". Abstract: Cornell completed a comprehensive evaluation of the potential for Earth Source Heat (ESH), Cornell's specific application of Deep Direct Use (DDU) geothermal energy, to create viable heat energy for its Ithaca, NY campus district heating system. The study included assessment of the natural rock properties within and surrounding two potential reservoirs, coupled to the assessment of the thermal energy needs for a district heating system capable of supplying 20% of Cornell's building heating load. The feasibility and benefits of such a district heating system at the specific location of Cornell University's Ithaca, NY campus are evaluated from the perspectives of economic cost, environmental benefits, and economic benefits in the region external to Cornell University. The economic cost is expressed as the Levelized Cost of Heat, and comparison to the existing inexpensive fossil fuel system. The submission includes descriptions of the assumptions, analyses, data, and models that were combined to reach conclusions regarding the feasibility of a Cornell Campus project. A shortened, descriptive title for the project is "Direct District Heating for the Cornell Campus Utilizing Deep Geothermal Energy."

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