DECD0000112
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
This project will demonstrate the technical viability of using industrial-scale geothermal clean heat (GCH) in the mining process.
The recipient will use GCH to enable the recovery of residual copper, a critical material, from previously mined material at a reduced emissions intensity compared to conventional mining practices and fossil-based alternatives for heat.
This project will also install and operate a microgrid and a battery energy storage system (BESS) at an active mine to increase energy reliability.
The recipient will continue prioritizing workforce development and labor pipeline programs and grow the recipient’s current community partnerships that focus on building resilience within rural communities.
The recipient will use GCH to enable the recovery of residual copper, a critical material, from previously mined material at a reduced emissions intensity compared to conventional mining practices and fossil-based alternatives for heat.
This project will also install and operate a microgrid and a battery energy storage system (BESS) at an active mine to increase energy reliability.
The recipient will continue prioritizing workforce development and labor pipeline programs and grow the recipient’s current community partnerships that focus on building resilience within rural communities.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THIS PROJECT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE TECHNICAL VIABILITY OF USING INDUSTRIAL-SCALE GEOTHERMAL CLEAN HEAT (GCH) IN THE MINING PROCESS. THE RECIPIENT WILL USE GCH TO ENABLE THE RECOVERY OF RESIDUAL COPPER, A CRITICAL MATERIAL, FROM PREVIOUSLY MINED MATERIAL AT A REDUCED EMISSIONS INTENSITY COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL MINING PRACTICES AND FOSSIL-BASED ALTERNATIVES FOR HEAT. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO INSTALL AND OPERATE A MICROGRID AND A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) AT AN ACTIVE MINE TO INCREASE ENERGY RELIABILITY. THE RECIPIENT WILL CONTINUE PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LABOR PIPELINE PROGRAMS AND GROW THE RECIPIENT’S CURRENT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOCUS ON BUILDING RESILIENCE WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Phoenix,
Arizona
85004-2189
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Freeport Minerals Corporation was awarded
Geothermal Clean Heat for Copper Recovery & Energy Reliability
Cooperative Agreement DECD0000112
worth $80,000,000
from the Department of Energy in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Phoenix Arizona United States.
The grant
has a duration of 7 years 5 months and
was awarded through assistance program 81.255 Clean Energy Demonstrations.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Clean Energy Demonstration Program on Current and Former Mine Land Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 7/22/25
Period of Performance
1/1/25
Start Date
6/30/32
End Date
Funding Split
$80.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$80.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to DECD0000112
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DECD0000112
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
For-Profit Organization (Other Than Small Business)
Awarding Office
892436 OFFICE OF CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATIONS (OCED)
Funding Office
892410 OFFICE OF CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATION
Awardee UEI
UZJ4GNKQZK88
Awardee CAGE
39AV0
Performance District
AZ-03
Senators
Kyrsten Sinema
Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly
Modified: 7/22/25