Mountain View, California, based Google said that it’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, has invested $10.25 million in Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS. Included in the investment are funds for research into next-generation geothermal technology which will focus on geothermal resource mapping and will help to develop information about the process and to form a policy agenda for geothermal energy.

Being touted as a “breakthrough energy technology”, EGS exponentially increases the potential of geothermal energy. Traditionally, geothermal energy has relied on finding naturally occurring pockets of steam and hot wate and then tapping into those, using the resulting steam to turn generators. By fracturing hot rock in the earth’s crust, the EGS process creates steam by circulating water through the fractured rock. The steam is then used to drive electric-generation turbines similar to those used in hydro-electric plants.

“EGS could be the ‘killer app’ of the energy world. It has the potential to deliver vast quantities of power 24/7 and be captured nearly anywhere on the planet. And it would be a perfect complement to intermittent sources like solar and wind,” said Dan Reicher, director of climate and energy initiatives for Google.org.

Google’s funding will be appropriated to Seattle-based Seattle-based AltaRock Energy Inc. AltaRock Energy will receive a $6.25 million investment to develop innovative technologies, to achieve significant cost reductions, and improved performance in EGS projects. The balance of the funds have been awarded to Potter Drilling, Inc. Potter will be developing new practices that reduce the operatiing cost of georthermal and will invetigate ways to drill deeper into harder rock, which is critical to the EGS process.

In addition, a grant of $489,521 has been awarded to Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab for use in improving public understanding and promotion of geothermal energy and to update geothermal maps of North America.