Competitors will develop models and algorithms to support geologic and geophysical mapping
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office
September 10, 2026
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) today announced the $300,000 Geologic Enhanced Mapping System (GEMS) Prize to help identify hidden geothermal systems by using geophysical data to identify faults and structures indicative of geothermal resources. Activities enabled by this prize will help deliver on President Trump’s Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy, by advancing geothermal exploration, in turn supporting the potential for geothermal to provide affordable, reliable, around-the-clock domestic electricity to Americans.
“Unlocking America’s vast geothermal potential is essential to securing our energy dominance and providing the reliable, dispatchable baseload power our nation needs,” said DOE Acting Assistant Secretary of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office Curt Coccodrilli. “By challenging innovators to map hidden geothermal resources, the GEMS Prize will boost efforts to strengthen grid stability, reduce utility expenses for U.S. households, and deliver the secure, steady electricity required to fuel our domestic manufacturing resurgence and next-generation AI data centers.”
The GEMS Prize challenges competitors to develop, train, and test algorithms that generate enhanced geologic fault datasets—which, in turn, can support mapping and modeling for geothermal and critical mineral resources. By using real-world datasets and testing ideas against geophysical data, the GEMS Prize is expected to accelerate discoveries of new, commercially viable hidden geothermal systems while reducing exploration and development risks.
The competition comprises two rounds, with prizes ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. Both individual and group competitors can participate, and submissions are due December 3, 2026. Learn more on the competition website.
Learn how HGEO is unleashing the full potential of America’s hydrocarbon and geothermal resources to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy here.
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