Stimulate Utilization of Plentiful Energy in Rocks through High-temperature Original Technologies (SUPERHOT)

The Stimulate Utilization of Plentiful Energy in Rocks through High-temperature Original Technologies (SUPERHOT) program is a funding initiative issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E is tasked with advancing the economic and energy security of the United States by funding high-impact energy technologies. This mandate, authorized through the America COMPETES Act and reaffirmed by subsequent legislation, focuses on developing innovations that improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, enhance infrastructure resilience, and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. ARPA-E operates distinctively by supporting early-stage, transformative research rather than incremental improvements, aiming to catalyze breakthroughs that can reshape markets or create entirely new ones. SUPERHOT specifically targets the development of technologies that harness geothermal energy from deep, high-temperature rock formations. Geothermal resources hotter than 375 °C and deeper than typical hydrothermal wells have the potential to supply substantial baseload electricity across the United States. Current geothermal electricity generation capacity is limited to around 4 GW, constrained by the limited presence of natural hydrothermal systems. However, emerging techniques in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) make it possible to access a much broader range of geothermal resources by creating artificial reservoirs. The SUPERHOT program aims to leverage these advances to unlock an estimated 15,000 GW of potential electricity production from rocks at depths up to 10 kilometers within the U.S. The funding opportunity supports R&D in two primary areas: robust well construction capable of withstanding extreme temperature and pressure, and technologies to efficiently transfer heat from geologic formations to surface-level infrastructure. Projects funded under SUPERHOT should offer innovative, scalable solutions to key technical challenges impeding the development of superhot geothermal systems. Due to the complexity and high-risk nature of these innovations, ARPA-E expects proposals to demonstrate rigorous risk mitigation strategies and aggressive performance milestones. The agency seeks proposals that, if successful, could provide a pathway to producing electricity at a levelized cost below $30/MWh by 2040, helping to meet the country’s growing energy demands, particularly in light of increased electrification and the expansion of data centers. Applications for SUPERHOT must be submitted through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal. All materials, including any required forms and narratives, must be uploaded by the stated deadline. Submission via other means will not be accepted. To access the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), applicants should visit the ARPA-E eXCHANGE platform. Guidance on how to use the portal is also available there, along with a user manual. For technical assistance with the system, applicants may contact [email protected]. Questions regarding the content of the NOFO can be directed to [email protected], provided the question is not already answered in the program’s FAQ. This program requires cost sharing, though the prior 15% indirect cost cap has been removed in the most recent version of the FOA (Modification 03). The anticipated number of awards is up to 15, with individual awards ranging between $250,000 and $10 million. The total estimated program funding is $30 million. Eligible applicants include all entity types, though Section II.A. of the NOFO provides further clarification. There are no geographic restrictions; the opportunity is open to applicants across the United States. The current closing date for submissions is March 5, 2026, although the original deadline was February 19, 2025. ARPA-E encourages early submission, at least 48 hours before the final deadline, due to the required use of the ARPA-E eXCHANGE platform. Based on language indicating annual cycles, the program appears to be recurring, with the next likely due date anticipated in February 2027. The opportunity is now active and accepting applications as of the analysis date.