WVU geology student says West Virginia’s mining history has opened doors for geothermal energy
Indiana WVU graduate student Tyler Hickey, pictured here near a rock formation, was recently chosen for a prestigious internship that supports students entering the geothermal workforce. (Submitted Photo)
Tyler Hickey said he believes West Virginia could be the future of energy. The Indiana native and graduate of Indiana University Southeast came to West Virginia University to pursue a graduate degree in geology on the advice of a professor who was a University graduate.
Hickey was one of 24 students chosen for a prestigious internship sponsored by the Geothermal Technologies Office and the National Science Foundation, which aims to support graduate students going into the geothermal workforce.
Hickey’s internship focuses on geothermal applications that have mainly been associated with the western United States, where geothermal energy is more prevalent. He works closely with Amy Weislogel in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of Geology and Geography.
“As you go deeper into the earth, the geothermal gradient gets warmer,” he said. “So, the further you get in to the subsurface, the warmer the rocks themselves get.”
The geothermal gradient in the eastern United States is lower than on the western side and hasn’t been enough to sustain large-scale geothermal energy applications. However, with the advancement of technology and direct use applications, more large-scale projects are underway for the eastern U.S.
Though geothermal energy has yet to be a viable option for sustaining large energy outputs, it does hold potential for district heating and cooling, which distributes heat to residential and commercial locations via series of insulated pipes. It also has a much lower carbon footprint than other heat generation systems.
Tyler Hickey, WVU graduate student, geology, WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences (Submitted Photo)
“That’s essentially what I’m looking at for this research project,” Hickey said. “I work with the people at the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, and what we have done over the past few months is collect samples that are associated with coal seams that have been mined.”
Many once-active mines in the state were abandoned and have since flooded. At 1 to 2 kilometers below ground, water temperatures tend to range between 60-120 degrees Celsius or 140-248 degrees Fahrenheit. Hickey is trying to determine whether these mine pools can sustain direct geothermal heating and cooling applications.
Direct use applications can be either closed or open loop. A closed loop takes the water from the mine and pipes it directly to homes or commercial buildings. When the water isn’t hot enough to sustain heating, a heat exchanger can use electricity to further warm it before it’s inputted to a building. Once used, the water is recycled back down into the subsurface, where the cycle continues.
Alternatively, open loop installations draw the water for use in heating or cooling, after which it’s dispersed into a different area such as a lake.
Using mine water does come with potential problems for long-term use, however. It’s heated naturally, over time, by interaction with rocks, and the rocks’ composition can make the water chemistry acidic or basic. The former can corrode the pipes in a geothermal system, while the latter can create scaling.
“Those are some of the factors that geoscientists consider regarding whether certain mine pools are viable,” Hickey said. “I’m trying to determine how the roof and floor rocks will affect that water chemistry and to see if it can sustain geothermal use for heating and cooling.”
He’s also trying to determine the mineralogy of the rocks. Communities are often hesitant to explore geothermal applications — largely because the initial capital investment and cost of installation is high — but the elemental composition of the rocks can indicate the presence of rare earth elements.
“Rare earth elements are very valuable in creating a lot of our electronics and things of that nature,” Hickey said. “Some of these rocks potentially contain those, which would help mitigate the costs of the geothermal installations.”
It’s also important to get this message out to the communities that can benefit from geothermal applications. Initial costs are high, but the annual upkeep is low compared to other energy sources. Moreover, geothermal could be a safer and more efficient long-term energy use.
“We have had some concrete evidence that these changes can turn a fantasy to reality,” he said. “I think there’s a good chance this could happen in the future.”
After he earns his graduate degree, Hickey would like to find a career that aligns with his interest in energy.
“I’m learning new things every day, working with the people at the Geological Survey, as well as my advisor and the professors here at WVU,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. And I think it adds more fuel to the fire.”
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lj/4/21/25
MEDIA CONTACT: Laura Jackson
Research Writer
WVU Research Communications
304-293-5507; Laura.Jackson@mail.wvu.edu