Earth Source Heat

Earth Source Heat: Creating carbon neutral, deep geothermal heating systems

Earth Source Heat (ESH) is Cornell's version of a deep geothermal system that would use the Earth's internal heat to warm the Ithaca campus without the use of fossil fuels. The project is a research collaboration across several academic departments along with campus facilities staff, and it is a major component of the university's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. If viable, ESH could also become a scalable solution for renewable heating in New York and in cold-climate regions across the globe.

Cornell scientists are committed to studying and addressing both benefits and risks in a thorough and transparent manner, developing best practices that will minimize risk and provide guidance for others who might implement this technology.

Cornell University Borehole Observatory (CUBO)

Members of the project team provided regular updates during drilling for the Cornell University Borehole Observatory (CUBO).
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In summer 2022, the university drilled a nearly two-mile deep exploratory borehole, funded by a $7.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, that has enabled researchers to further explore subsurface rock conditions and heat output. Since then, experts at CUBO have shared periodic updates on the preliminary geology and engineering findings. From the initial drilling to summer 2024, scientists shared more than a dozen publications and presentations informed by CUBO or the ESH project. If ESH is determined as safe and viable, the project will proceed with a demonstration well pair.