The University of Rhode Island (URI) is taking a multi-pronged approach in its efforts to work toward net-zero carbon emissions — including looking to sources of renewable energy.
Among those energy sources is geothermal, which will be implemented in URI's new Ocean Frontiers Building on the Narragansett Bay Campus.
As part of the campus' revitalization project, geothermal energy will be used to heat and cool the new building, which is designed to replace the 55-year-old Horn Laboratory with modern, environmentally controlled labs to support advanced scientific instruments.
"Geothermal systems reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate the green economy and provide long-term savings related to operating and lifecycle replacement costs," said Seth Pilotte, the construction projects manager at the Narragansett Bay Campus.
Geothermal resources are reservoirs of hot water that exist at varying temperatures and depths below the earth's surface. Wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and extremely hot water that can be brought to the surface for use in a variety of applications, including heating and cooling, or to generate electricity.
The geothermal system on the campus is expected to reduce energy use by 30 to 60 percent for heating and up to 50 percent for cooling. Once installed, these systems have minimal maintenance needs and significantly lower utility bills, often paying for themselves in five to 10 years.
Discussions about using geothermal energy began in March 2024 within the URI Facilities Group. The decision was made to drill an 850-ft.-deep test well to provide data that would inform the cost effectiveness and overall feasibility of using geothermal energy at the site, a task that was carried out in early March of 2025.
The planning and testing were funded by a $100,000 grant from PPL Corp., a Pennsylvania-based energy company comprised of Rhode Island Energy, LG&E, Kentucky Utilities and PPL Electric Utilities. The combined utility companies serve 3.5 million customers in four states.
The drilling and testing on URI's Narragansett Campus, the school said Nov. 18, accounted for 90 percent of the cost due to the mobilization of the drill rig and testing equipment, as well as ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Engineering, calculations and reporting accounted for the remaining 10 percent of expenses.
Christopher Baxter, a professor of ocean engineering of URI and professor/chair of the university's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, served as the principal investigator.
In June 2024, URI and PPL Corp. announced a strategic partnership to propel important research in renewable energy, energy alternatives and sustainability. The PPL Foundation also launched the $100,000 Brighter Futures scholarship at URI that supports those students passionate about clean energy and sustainability.
In addition, Rhode Island Energy and PPL selected URI as a strategic partner to address research in offshore renewable energy, climate change, grid decarbonization, nuclear technology advancement and carbon capture.
"With support from URI leadership, we are now able to install an HVAC system that will provide an excellent return on investment and savings on operational costs, while also helping the university reduce its environmental impact," said David Palazzetti, senior director of URI facilities operations.
New Techniques Used, Challenges Met
A specialized drill rig was used to core the bore hole through 10 ft. of surface clay and approximately 800 ft. of bedrock using the mud-to-air technique, a hybrid rotary method that transitions from mud rotary to air rotary drilling as subsurface conditions change. The technique is a tactical choice in geotechnical, environmental and water well projects where formations vary in stability and hardness.
One of the challenges was reaching the location for the test, Pilotte said.
"Access to the site was difficult due to the small width of the roadways and steep elevation changes at the east side of [URI Narragansett's] quad," he said. "Additionally, there is heavy pedestrian traffic in the vicinity, with people making their way across the campus. The only feasible access for the drill rig was through the Ocean Robotics Laboratory construction site, which required another level of coordination with the contractor and project manager."
Extra care was taken to ensure the spoils — excavated slurry consisting of drilled rock and fluid from the test — were contained and removed to prevent any infiltration within the campus stormwater system and the nearby Narragansett Bay.
When testing was completed, the site was fully restored, and the test was deemed a success.
"The results of the investigation were that the geology possesses excellent thermal conductivity characteristics and good drilling conditions, yielding a high rate of production, making it feasible to design and implement a geothermal system at this location," Pilotte said.
When finished, the Ocean Frontiers Building will serve as a home for researchers in URI's Graduate School of Oceanography, while housing dedicated office, laboratory and classroom space. The structure is projected to open in the fall of 2028.
The design of the geothermal system could also support URI's Ocean Science and Exploration Center, the Watkins Laboratory and the Ocean Robotics Laboratory in the future, the university noted.
